A Dalit woman activist, who was planning to visit the Sabarimala shrine Saturday has put her plans on hold and left Pamba following heavy rain, as high drama was witnessed when another woman was stopped from entering the temple by devotees who thought she was under 50.
Today is the fourth day since the temple gates were opened for the monthly puja after the Supreme Court last month lifted a centuries-old ban on women between 10 and 50 years entering the Lord Ayyappa shrine.
Top police officers camping at downhill Pamba, about five km from the temple complex, held discussions with Manju, leader of Dalit Mahila Federation, during which she reportedly insisted that she wanted to visit the shrine as a devotee of Lord Ayyappa.
Police told her that it was not possible to climb the hill Saturday evening due to heavy rains in the area, police sources said.
She has been convinced about the slippery state of the roads leading to the temple and difficulties in climbing the hill and providing security cover in the rains, they said.
Manju left Pamba in the evening, saying she was a devotee and would come here to climb the hill "on a convenient date."
Pathanamthitta District Collector P B Nooh said there was no tension at 'Sannidhanam.'
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