#SabarimalaTemple: Malayalam TV cameraman attacked by angry devotees
A cameraman of a Malayalam television news channel was attacked, allegedly by angry devotees at Sabarimala's Lord Ayyappa temple complex today, when he was filming a protest organized to prevent the entry of a woman, whom devotees suspected to be of menstrual age. The cameraman had climbed up the sunshade of a building to capture the protest. No case has been registered so far.
Devotees were seen hurling plastic stools at the cameraman
Hundreds of devotees shouted at Vishnu, the cameraman, as he was taking visuals of them protesting. Television channels also aired visuals of some protesters hurling a plastic stool at the cameraman. The channels also alleged that the agitators threw a coconut at him, which devotees offer to the deity. Vishnu was seen handing over his camera safely to other journalists standing below the sunshade.
52-year-old woman came with her family to visit shrine
Police later confirmed that the woman, identified as Lalitha, a native of Tirur, was 52 years old, and had come to the Lord Ayyappa temple for her grandson's 'chorunnu' (rice giving ceremony). She came with her family members when the shrine opened this morning for the "Sree Chitira Atta Thirunal" puja to mark the birth anniversary of Travancore's last king, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.
Several journalists, activists attacked by devotees since October 17
When the Sabarimala temple was opened for six days on October 17 for the first time since SC's verdict, devotees attacked several journalists, who were capturing the events. Attempts by around a dozen women, including activists and journalists aged between 10-50 years, to script history came to naught as frenzied devotees of Lord Ayyappa heckled and hassled them and forced them to retreat.
Security tightened at the temple to avoid any untoward incident
The Ayyappa temple opened yesterday for the second time in three weeks for a two-day special puja, amid unprecedented security over apprehension of protests by those opposing the Supreme Court order, allowing women of menstrual age there. Hundreds of police personnel, including armed commandos, are keeping a tight vigil in the temple complex and nearby areas to prevent any untoward incident.
