Women activists detained on way to Shani temple

The police detained women activists, who were on their way to the Shani Shingnapur temple to break the centuries old tradition of not allowing the feminine gender to enter the sanctum sanctorum, here on Tuesday.

The activists of Ranragini Bhumata Brigade led by Trupti Desai, who had left from Pune earlier in the day for the Shani Shingnapur temple, were stopped by the police near Supa in Maharasthra.

Desai said that it was a black day for women as they were being stopped from exercising their rights.

"The way police jostled with us is not right. We were marching peacefully. This is a black day for women. They are stopping women from exercising their right. The police is misbehaving with us. We will surely go to the temple," she said.

To prevent law and order issues, the police and temple authorities have put up three levels of barricades, deployed women constables and village volunteers to guard the temple.

The temple drew attention in November 2015 after a woman had offered prayers at the popular shrine in 'breach' of the age-old practice of prohibiting entry of women, after which the temple committee had to suspend seven security men and the villagers to perform purification rituals.

The temple platform attracts millions of tourists and devotees from across the country and abroad.