Sabarimala row: Kerala Human Rights Commission visit Pamba

A three-member team of Kerala Human Rights Commission (KHRC) reached Pamba in Sabarimala on Tuesday to look into the allegations that there were gross human rights violations at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, Nilackal and Pamba.

The KHRC recently directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and other local authorities to ensure that basic facilities were provided to Lord Ayyappa devotees in and around the temple complex.

The pilgrims take a dip in the rivulet before ascending to the Sabarimala hilltop for the 'darshan' of Lord Ayyappa. Many people find this water body polluted with even faeces being discharged into it.

The state's human rights commission, after receiving complaints about the deplorable conditions, took a strong view of the situation around the shrine, which is thronged by millions of devotees.

Meanwhile, the political storm around the Sabarimala Temple row is not dissipating.

Some followers of Lord Ayyappa- the deity of the temple- are angry with the recent Supreme Court decision of allowing women of all ages to enter the temple. Violent clashes between the followers and police erupted last month after the doors of the temple were reopened.

No woman was allowed by the agitating devotees to enter the shrine despite heavy police deployment.

On Monday, 69 people were arrested after they allegedly violated Section 144 (unlawful assembly) imposed in the vicinity of Temple. The Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah took on the state government.

"If Pinarayi Vijayan thinks he can rise against people's movement to preserve Sabarimala by arresting K Surendran, our Thrissur District President and 6 others, and then he is mistaken. We stand firmly with every Ayyappa devotee, who holds the Sabarimala tradition close to his heart," Shah tweeted on Tuesday.