Sabarimala Temple: Police ask media to vacate Sannidhaman, Pamba as first pilgrim season ends today

The doors of the Sabarimala Temple will close on Monday after it was opened on Wednesday evening. The Lord Ayyappa temple remains open for only five days a month. On Monday, police officials informed the media to vacate the areas in and around Sannidhaman and Pamba as they had received inputs of a targeted attack being planned on the media, according to news agency ANI.

Police officials informed media in Sannidhanam and Pamba to vacate the area as police had inputs of a targeted attack being planned on the media. #SabarimalaTemple #Kerala pic.twitter.com/cVVzeErcOu

— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2018

Since Day One, there have been protests to stop women from entering the hill shrine even after the Supreme Court's landmark judgment allowing women of all age groups to visit Lord Ayyappa's temple. Over the past few days, several women including journalists had tried to enter the temple only to be stopped amid violent protests.

The police say they will provide protection to the women devotees to reach the temple, but cannot help beyond that. “Darshan is something which can be done with the consent of the priest,” said Kerala Inspector General S Sreejith.

We had brought them ((journalist Kavitha Jakkal&woman activist Rehana Fatima) till temple premises but tantri&priest refused to open temple for them. While we were waiting, tantri informed me that if we attempt to take the women ahead they would close the temple: Kerala IG (1/2) pic.twitter.com/fbjImadHZ8

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018