Sabarimala Temple Opening LIVE Updates: CNN-News18 Crew Attacked, Woman Journalist's Car Vandalised

Tribals Oppose SC Verdict | Tribals living in the forests around Sabarimala feel some vested interests were utilising the Supreme Court verdict to play politics over the issue. "We live a few miles away from the temple. Our women in this age group have never attempted to go to the temple," a member of the community says.

'No One Should be Allowed to Disturb Our Lord' | “This is the holy land of Lord Ayyappa. He is our prince. No one should be allowed to disturb our Lord who protects us from all evil forces,” Karthyayani, 54, belonging to the Kurava community, says.

Kerala Simmers Over Sabarimala | Widespread protests rock Kerala as Sabarimala opens its doors to women of all age groups. The apex court had on September 28 passed a historic judgement lifting the ban on entry of girls and women of menstrual age into the temple, a verdict that was hailed by rights activists but opposed by traditionalists. 

News18 Creative by Mir Suhail

CPI leader D Raja reacts to Sabarimala protests. “I strongly condemn attack on media persons and on women who decided to go there. These are organised and led by BJP and RSS. They want to disturb communal harmony. Kerala government is trying its best to maintain law and order,” he says.

Sabarimala Protests: Situation so Far

- Women journalists, including CNN-News18 crew, attacked on way to shrine

- Two women devotees who tried to reach Sabarimala were forced to cut short their visit amid protests

- Congress, BJP hold sit-ins, hunger strikes at Pamba, Nilakkal

- Travancore Devaswom Board's bid to bring consensus among tantri, Pandalam Palace and government fails again

- No one would be allowed to block pilgrims, said Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran

Independent MLA PC George blames media for attacks at Sabarimala. “No attack has taken place... whatever has happened to you is because of what you have done,” he says.

RSS&BJP is taking double standards.On one hand,5 advocates associated with BJP gave petition in SC over entry of women of all ages in Sabarimala temple,on the other hand,BJP is leading fight against the verdict. Now BJP trying to make it as a law&order issue: VS Sunil,Kerala Min pic.twitter.com/DpNWY5gm2B

— ANI (@ANI) 17 October 2018

Madhavi, accompanied by her parents and children, began the Pamba climb accompanied by the police but was forced to turn back due to protesters.

Kerala: Total 30 people have been arrested in Pamba, 9 yesterday and 21 today, in connection with protests against entry of women in age group 10-50 to #SabarimalaTemple. Two of them got bail.

— ANI (@ANI) 17 October 2018

Sorry for the Violence, Says Rahul Easwar | Activist Rahul Easwar, who is at the forefront of the protests against entry of women into Sabarimala, said the organisation condemns any kind of violence. “We apologise… If you could tell us, we ourselves will file the complaint,” he said.

'Why Are BJP, RSS Protesting?' | Kadakampally Surendran, the Devasom minister, asked what the BJP and RSS were protesting against. “Most of the petitions that have been submitted in court to allow entry of women have been made by people associated with BJP and RSS,” he said.

CNN-News18 Crew Attacked | CNN-News18 crew attacked in Sabarimala as protesters stop women from entering the shrine despite Supreme Court orders, woman journalist's car vandalised.

Several women journalists have been attacked by protesters in Sabarimala. Despite police presence, incidents of devotees preventing women from entering the shrine have been on the rise since Wednesday morning. 

A woman protesting against the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala told CNN-News18 that courts did not understand the matters of faith. “Because of these new decisions, Hindus' freedom to pray is being eroded and they are being forced out on the streets to protect their faith,” she said.

Kerela: Congress party leaders hold a peaceful protest in Nilakkal against the entry of women in the age group of 10-50 to #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/EtHSp6NNrv

— ANI (@ANI) 17 October 2018

BJP Registers Dissent at Pamba | BJP leaders K Surendran, Shoba Surendran and MT Ramesh are leading the protest at Pamba along with party workers. Surendran has accused the state government of hurting religious sentiments of people.

I spoke to @Sarithasbalan and @PoojaPrasanna4..both attacked. I want @RahulEaswar and all the others to answer. Is this your protest? Saritha was abused with the worst kind of abuses. Is this how a devotee behaves?

— Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) 17 October 2018

Nilakkal: A woman Madhavi on her way to #SabarimalaTemple returned mid-way along with her relatives after facing protests. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/OUCbOqa1aO

— ANI (@ANI) 17 October 2018

Ex-Travancore Devaswom Board President, Wife of Tantri Taken Into Custody | The former Travancore Devaswom Board president and the wife of Kandararu Maheshwararu Tantri were taken into police custody at Pamba for protesting against the Supreme Court verdict allowing women entry into the shrine.

Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran in a Facebook post said no one will be allowed to block pilgrims from worshipping Lord Ayyappa. “None would be allowed to disrupt peace,” he said, adding that he has reached Sabarimala to facilitate women's entry.

Pamba: Police detain people protesting against the entry of women in the age group of 10-50 women to Kerala's #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/DLdoYMVz8J

— ANI (@ANI) 17 October 2018

Protesters Pelt Stones at Vehicle With Women Devotees | Stones pelted at a vehicle carrying women devotees in Nilakkal but nobody was injured. The incident happened when protesters insisted on searching the vehicle but the police refused. In retaliation, they pelted stones and shattered the windshield of the vehicle.

Police Crack Down on Protesters | Pathinamthitta Police register case against 50 protesters who tried to attack a journalist named Libi who was on her way to Sabarimala

Heavy police presence is seen at Sabarimala to prevent protesters from stopping women devotees on their way to the shrine.

Sabarimala Review Meeting Begins | Sabarimala review meeting chaired by Devaswom minister Kadakampilly starts at Sannidhanam, even as protests rage across state to stop women from entering the shrine.

Andhra Pradesh Woman Sent Back by Protesters | A 45-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh entered Pamba and walked for about 200 meters before she was turned away by protesters. Police had earlier provided protection to the devotee but withdrew it halfway.

#WATCH: Women protest in Nilakkal against the entry of women in the age group of 10-50 to #Sabarimala temple. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/GuxDZo0R7G

— ANI (@ANI) 17 October 2018

Keeping Vigil to Avoid Bad Omen | Dozens of tribal and Dalit women and children living in the hills around Sabarimala have assembled at Nilakkal to keep a vigil. The tribals and Dalits believe that if women of menstruating age climb the hill, violating the centuries-old custom, it will be a bad omen.

VK Narayanan, chief of the forest dwellers, said considering menstruating women impure is a Dravidian custom and is associated with the worship of nature by the tribal people. "Lord Ayyappa is our God. Restrictions imposed on women of a certain age group from entering the shrine is part of our custom. Following the custom is very important for worshipping at the Lord Ayyappa temple situated in the dense forests. It should not be violated. Impure women should not be allowed in the Sabarimala temple,” he said.