In Kerala, the famous Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala is all set to open at 5 PM today, as tension prevails in the area.
This morning, the police started removing tents put up at Nilakkal in Pathanamthitta by those protesting against the recent Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter the temple.
The police also evicted the protesters who were staging a demonstration at Nilakkal. Security has been tightened in the area as 1,000 more police personnel, including women officers, are being deployed in Pamba and Nilakkal.
The Sabarimala Samrakshana Samithi has declared a 24-hour-hartal against the state government’s decision to implement the apex court verdict.
Kerala Police Chief Loknath Behera said, no one will be stopped from entering the temple. An evaluation meeting was held by Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran with officials to review the situation.
