Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 4: Violent protests have brought Kerala to a standstill after two women below the age of 50 entered the Sabarimala shrine on Wednesday. The protests have spread beyond Kerala as effigy of CM Pinarayi Vijayan was burnt in Hyderabad and some clashes were also reported from Kerala House in Delhi.
Hindutva outfits under the umbrella Sabarimala Action Council have called for a statewide shutdown on Thursday. This is the the seventh shutdown called by right-wing groups in just three months over the Sabarimala issue. Two women of menstruating age group, cloaked in black veils, created history on Wednesday as they stepped into the Sabarimala temple of Lord Ayyappa, breaking a centuries-old tradition defying dire threats from the Hindu right.
Violence reported from Kerala House in Delhi.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's effigy burnt in Hyderabad.
Journalists and camera persons have faced the ire of frenzied protesters of the saffron outfits across Kerala while trying to cover the violence spread by them, reports HT.
Kerala CM is openly lying, Hindus are suffering in the state. We will appeal for an Ordinance on Sabarimala, says activist Rahiul Eashwar in a TV program.
BJP MP V. Muraleedharan writes to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking probe by national security agencies into the entry of two women in Sabarimala Temple.
The Kerala police Thursday arrested 745 people, involved in hartal violence and registered 559 cases. 628 people were taken into preventive custody, reported Indian Express.
"Sought from Chief Minister an urgent Law and Order report on incidents of violence and destruction of private and public property in Kerala following entry of two young women in Sabarimala temple. I appeal to all sections of people to maintain calm and peace," Kerala Governor says in a statement.
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus services to Kerala have been resumed, say reports.
In the wake of shutdown and violence in Kerala over Sabarimala issue, the Congress-led UDF alleged that the law and order had collapsed in Kerala.
266 persons arrested and 334 in precautionary detention in connection with the attacks during hartal called by various organisations over Sabarimala Temple women entry.
Country-made bombs hurled at police officials in Thiruvananthapuram. Some personnel sustained minor injuries in the incident
So far, 266 people have been arrested and 334 people have been taken into preventive detention for the various hartal related violence.
"The purification ritual is demeaning to women as it projects them as 'impure' and 'unclean'. It is also a clear violation of the Supreme Court verdict," AIDWA said in a statement.
The All India Democratic Women's Association has expressed strong objection to the purification rituals carried out by the priests after two women of menstruating age visited the Sabarimala temple, calling it "demeaning" as it projects women as "impure" and "unclean".
Sixty workers of a Tamil Nadu-based fringe Hindu outfit were arrested for trying to stage a 'rail-roko' on Thursday in protest against the entry of two women of menstruating age group into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, PTI reported.
DGP Loknath Behera on Thursday said the Kerala Police will look into whether the attacks on mediapersons across the state was as part of a conspiracy. In a release, the DGP said district police heads have been instructed to create special teams to investigate these cases.
Rahul Easwar raises need for Ordinance to protect Sabarimala believers.
A 64-year-old woman, Pathumma from Wayanad who came for treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) here, collapsed and died at the Thiruvananthapuram railway station in the morning, following which her relatives alleged that a delay in getting ambulance service resulted in her death, PTI reported.
Several journalists will hold a protest march shortly in view of the attacks on media personnel covering the Sabarimala issue.
Shashi Tharoor extends support to UDF
2 Youth Congress workers injured after vehicle in CM's cavalcade hits them.
According to the reports, four BJP workers have been stabbed during protests in Vadanapally, Thrissur.
Congress MP K Suresh, says, "Sabarimala women entry issue: We're observing 'black day' in Kerala today. State govt is challenging the sentiments of devotees of Sabarimala. With the sponsor of state govt, these two young women entered the temple. They are activists, they are maoists."
"7 police vehicles, 79 KSRTC buses destroyed & 39 police personnel attacked, till now. Most of the persons attacked were women. Women media persons were also attacked," the CM says.
It's government's responsibility to give protection to women. The government has fulfilled this constitutional responsibility. Sangh Parivar is trying to make Sabarimala into a clash zone, says CM Vijayan.
Kerala govt is taking measures everyday to send someone there to disturb its rituals. It's festival time when per day 1-2 lakh ppl used to come to temple but due to govt action, it has reduced to 10-15,000, alleges PGS Varma,member of royal Pandalam family.
Supreme Court refuses to give an urgent hearing to a mentioning by lawyer, PV Dinesh, seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the Sabarimala Temple priest for purification of temple premises after entry of 2 women yesterday. SC said the matter has been fixed for Jan 22.
Two people have been arrested & two detained for attacking a Special Branch Women Police personnel on duty in rural area of Ernakulam district last night.
BJP holds protest march in Kochi against the entry of women in Sabarimala Temple.
Ambulances being used to help stranded passengers at Thiruvananthapuram.
Homes of five CPM party leaders in Kerala have been attacked and ransacked.
Jet Airways issues a notice to warn its passengers of possible transportation issues in face of the ongoing protests in Kerala.
"We will carry on with our agitation in a peaceful manner and abide by the law of the land," says BJP Kerala president PS Sreedharan Pillai on protests.
Two CPM workers from Pandalam, allegedly involved in the death of BJP worker Chandran Unnithan, have been taken into police custody today.
Security has been deployed in Pathanamthitta in the view of hartal called by Hindu outfits.
Police has beefed up security in Kerala and state police chief Loknath Behera has warned protesters of severe action in case of violence and obstruction of traffic.
United Democratic Front will observe ‘black day’ in the state today as two women under 50 years of age entered the Sabarimala temple Wednesday. Here are visuals from Thiruvananthapuram.
57 buses have been destroyed. Many CPM and BJP offices attacked. Widespread violence reported from many areas of the state.
A native of Pandalam Chandran Unnithan (55) died in stone pelting. BJP said CPM workers were behind the attack.
An activist of Sabarimala Karma Samiti who was injured during stone pelting succumbed to his injuries in the early hours on Thursday, said police.
Shutdown has begun in Kerala. Security has been beefed up after intelligence report of violence.
Stay tuned for Sabarimala updates