Sabarimala Temple LIVE: Cops detain people protesting against women's entry

ANI reporter Ayushmaan Kumar was attacked by protesters at Nilakkal base camp in Kerala when he was taking the pictures of women checking the buses for women devotees. Police was also present at the spot when the attack took place.

NWMI vehemently denounces attacks on journalists, including several women journalists, at Nilakkal/Sabarimala. We demand that Chief Minister and government of Kerala take immediate action against agitators who let violent assailants loose on journalists, says Network of Women in Media, India.

Kerala minister KK Shailaja hits out at those protesting against entry of women in Sabarimala temple. Speaking to news agency ANI, she says, "I can predict what is going on there. I think it is intentional, it's dirty politics they (protesters) are playing. We can't say if they are actual devotees. Supreme Court's order is Constitutional and government is bound to implement it."

See shocking pics of Sabarimala Temple protests here.

To know all about the Sabarimala Temple and the controversy, click here

Sabrimala Temple Case: Kerala minister takes on BJP.

RSS&BJP is taking double standards.On one hand,5 advocates associated with BJP gave petition in SC over entry of women of all ages in Sabarimala temple,on the other hand,BJP is leading fight against the verdict. Now BJP trying to make it as a law&order issue: VS Sunil,Kerala Min pic.twitter.com/DpNWY5gm2B

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2018

Sabarimala Temple Case: Several women journalists have been targeted by protestors with reports of media vehicles and equipments being smashed.

Sabarimala Temple Case: Cops say 50 people have been taken into custody in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district.

Sabrimala Temple Kerala: News agency PTI reports that a woman from Andhra Pradesh sought to make their way to the shrine but had to turn back due to protests by male devotees. She was given police protection.

Sabarimala Temple case: Over 20 people including former Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan taken into custody in Nilakkal and Pamba, reports news agency ANI.

Sabrimala Temple Kerala: Congress extends support to protestors. News agency ANI reports that several state Congress leaders are holding a peaceful protest in Nilakkal.

Political blamegame begins with the ruling CPI(M) pointing fingers at BJP and RSS for the prevailing situation.

Sabrimala Temple Case: Police begin detaining people for protesting against entry of women. The situation reportedly getting tense with scuffles being reports from several areas.

Women protestors carry out march against entry of women at Sabarimala:

#WATCH: Women protest in Nilakkal against the entry of women in the age group of 10-50 to #Sabarimala temple. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/GuxDZo0R7G

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2018

Protests have been peaceful so far:

Kerala: Protests being held near Pamba base camp against entry of women in the age group 10-50 to #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/JTZ2negQ5L

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2018

Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra has assured that no one would be stopped entry at Sabarimala Temple. News agency IANS has reported that over 1,000 personnel took position in Nilackal and Pamba - the foothills of the famed Lord Ayyappa temple.

"None would be stopped nor would anyone be allowed to take law into their hands. Sabarimala is safe and anyone can come and pray," the police chief has said.
 

Review petitions have been filed in Supreme Court against allowing women entry even as the state government has said it would ensure the order of the apex court is respected.

Security in and around Sabrimala has been tightened in view of many devotees saying they cannot abide by the SC ruling. Some have even said women will have to step on them to enter the temple. A few others have also threatened suicide.

On September 28, the Supreme Court had paved the way for entry of women of all ages.  "Devotees of Lord Ayyappa are Hindus, don't constitute a separate religious denomination. No physiological and biological factor can be given legitimacy if it doesn't pass the test of conditionality. Restrictions put by Sabarimala temple can't be held as essential religious practice."

Sabarimala Temple is located inside Periyar Tiger Reserve in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. Lord Ayyappan is worshipped here.

The temple has so far restricted the entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 because of a belief that women of menstruating age are 'impure'