Lankan woman prays at Sabarimala, violence continues in Kerala

A Lankan woman below 50 years succeeded in gaining entry into the Ayyappa shrine here Friday as stray incidents of violence were reported from various parts of the state, a day after BJP-RSS and right wing outfits ran riot clashing with the ruling CPIM.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the hill temple, sought an explanation from Tantri (priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru for closing the temple and performing purification rites after two women-- Bindu (42) and Kanakadurga (44), entered the temple on January 2.

While sources in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office and police confirmed that the 47-year-old Lankan woman Sasikala did indeed enter the shrine and offered prayers, the woman maintained she was turned away by police and that she could not offer prayers.

However, police later released CCTV visuals of the woman and her husband Sarvanan inside the shrine. But it is not clear if she climbed the "pathinettampadi" (holy 18 steps) to reach the sanctum sanctorum.

Addressing party workers at Karette on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan ridiculed the BJP and RSS and asked why they have not called for a hartal after one more woman had trekked the hills and offered prayers at Sabarimala.

Lashing out at the Sangh Parivar forces, Vijayan said they were trying to disrupt the peace and unity of the state.

"We faced the worst floods in 100 years. We are trying to rebuild our state, a rejuvenated Kerala, a new Kerala. We need that unity which we showcased during floods (in August).

They (sangh parivar) are trying to destroy that. Do not fall for their tricks," he said.

Stray incidents of violence continued to be reported in the southern state, which turned into a war zone over the entry of women of menstruating age in Sabarimala temple, Friday with rampaging protesters hurling crude bombs and stones at various places.

The house of Malabar Devaswom (temple administration) board member K Sasikumar at Perambra in Kozhikode was attacked with bombs in the early hours Friday, the police said.

Similar explosives were hurled at a mobile shop in Adoor in Pathanamthitta, they said.

A police release said 1,718 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in the last two days and 1,108 cases registered till this evening.

The release said 1,009 people have been taken into preventive custody.

According to the release, 174 people, including 132 police personnel and 10 media personnel, have been injured in the violence.

Violent protests were witnessed during the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by pro-Hindu outfits on Thursday.

With violence continuing in some parts, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala Friday alleged the home department and government had been a "complete failure."