#SabarimalaRow: Woman journalist treks Sabarimala, forced to return by devotees
In the fierce attempts of Lord Ayyappa devotees to prevent women of all age groups from entering Sabarimala temple, a Delhi-based woman journalist was stopped midway, while she was trekking the Sabarimala Hill today. The journalist, who belonged to a foreign media outlet, accompanied by her male colleague, a foreigner, descended the hills from Marakkoottam in the face of mounting protest by Ayyappa devotees.
Some hurled abuses at journo, opposing her entry into Sabarimala
Reporters of Malayalam news channels who followed the journalist said the devotees shouted slogans like 'Ladies go back'. Some even allegedly hurled abuses at her opposing her entry into the ancient shrine, the reports said. Police had thrown a security ring around the woman and her colleague. Reports said she is in her late 40s. However, there is no confirmation regarding her age.
Woman told protesters she's doing her professional duty as journalist
The woman told the raging protesters that she was a journalist and she was on her way to the shrine for carrying out her professional duty. The police told her that they were ready to provide her security but she decided not to climb the hills further, police said. The woman journalist and her colleague were later taken to Pamba police station.
Women journalists heckled, their vehicles smashed by Ayyappa devotees yesterday
If the woman journalist had been able to climb the hills, she would have become the first woman of the menstrual age group to visit the Sabarimala Temple after the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter the shrine. Yesterday, women journalists were heckled, their vehicles smashed, and young female Ayyappa devotees turned back by activists of Hindu fringe groups.
