Chennai: The Kerala police have registered cases against 200 persons for protesting at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple sannidhanam yesterday.
Also, the Travancore Devaswom Board has issued notice to the junior priests who sat at the bottom of the sacred 18 steps that lead to the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayyappan Temple, protesting the entry of women into the temple.
Ever since the Sabarimala temple reopened for the Thulam month poojas on 18 October, the whole area has been in the grip of tension as women of menstruating age prepared to trek to the temple following the Supreme Court judgement allowing girls / women of all ages to worship at the Ayyappan Temple.
Two women almost reached the sanctum sanctorum when they were asked by the police to turn back as the protest by devotees and priests strengthened. Journalist Kavitha and social activist Rehana Fathima returned to Pamba. Sweety, the third woman who tried to undertake the trek, was stopped at Pamba.