Two Kerala women, who attempted to trek to the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, were forced to return on Saturday. The women, who reached Nilakkal early morning, held talks with the police, who convinced them to return. They have been taken to Erumely.
This is the second time Reshma Nishanth and Shanila Sajeesh are attempting to visit Sabarimala. The duo's attempts to visit the hill shrine on Wednesday were thwarted by devotees. Reshma had then said she would offer prayers at the temple.
READ: Kerala govt claims 51 women entered Sabarimala shrine
The women had come along with a group of men, including Shreyas, a member of Facebook group Navothana Keralam Sabarimalayileku. He alleged that the police could have taken the women to Sabarimala. He claimed that more women would attempt to visit the temple on Saturday.
On January 2, two Kerala women had entered the temple, three months after the Supreme Court allowed women of all groups to enter the shrine.
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Two women—Bindu and Kanakadurga—had entered the hill shrine in December, despite dire threats from right-wing groups.
Following their entry, the head priest decided to close the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in order to perform the purification ritual, which used to be carried out during the time of the violation of temple customs.
The Kerala government on Friday submitted in the Supreme Court that 51 women in the 10-50 age group had entered the temple after the ban was lifted.
