39-year-old supporter of Sabarimala verdict's house attacked

The house of a 39-year-old teacher Aparna, who advocated the entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala Temple, was attacked by some unidentified persons on Wednesday late night in Kerala's Kozhikode city.

Aparna, a cancer survivor openly, is known for openly supporting a few young women who expressed their willingness to climb up to Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.

At the time of the attack, Aparna and her 13-year-old daughter were alone in the house. Attackers pelted stones at the house and left window panes broken.

On October 27, an ashram in Kerala, founded by preacher Sandeepananda Giri, who also supported the apex court verdict allowing the entry of women of menstruating age to the Sabarimala temple, was allegedly attacked by some unidentified persons. Two cars and a scooter belonging to the Ashram were also set ablaze by the assailants.

The Sabarimala Temple and its surrounding areas witnessed a string of protests in October over the Supreme Court's decision to quash restrictions on the entry of women aged between 10 and 50 years into the shrine.

Kerala had witnessed massive protests from devotees at various places, including Sabarimala, Nilakkal and Pamba, against permitting women of all ages to enter the shrine.

The women in the 'barred' age group (10-50) had tried to trek the hills of holy shrine every time when the doors of the temple were open to offer prayers but had to retreat following widespread protests.