Sabarimala Temple LIVE Updates: Rain Halts Dalit Woman's Historic Trek, Cops Conduct 'Background Check'

Kerala IG Sreejith has said that Dalit leader Manju will not be taken to the Sabarimala trek today due to heavy rainfall. "Her background check is being done, depending on that will take a decision to take her tomorrow," the IG said.

Another reason due to which Dalit leader Manju will not be able to trek to Sabarimala today is the activist's incomplete background verification. The leader has cases registered against her and her suspected links to extremist outfit, Dalit Human Rights Movement (DHRM), has acted as a deterrent. 

The general secretary of a Dalit outfit in Kerala may not be able to embark on the trek from Pampa today due to inclement weather. Thirty-eight-year-old S P Manju is presently at Pampa Police Control room, where the officers had advised her not to trek today due to heavy rainfall. However, she refused, following which Kerala police said that Manju will be given the same protection as the Telangana journalist. But sources told <em>CNN-News18</em> that it would be dangerous to continue the journey amid the incessant rainfall.

Condemning the standoff between women devotees and right wing outfits at Sabarimala, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has said that the shrine is the "abode of Lord Ayyappa" and not a place for "activism or one-upmanship".

The abode of Lord Ayyappa should be kept intact with utmost serenity, respecting tradition. It’s not a place for activism or one-upmanship.
I am sure, while considering the review petition, the Hon’ble Court will take note of the sentiments of devotees as well.#Sabarimala

— Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@SriSri) October 20, 2018

There are more protesters today as compared to yesterday. Even on the trek route from Pampa, there are thousands of agitators protesting against the opening of Sabarimala temple for women of all age groups. Police say that postponing the trek for tomorrow could pose an additional risk due to the swelling of crowd. A source said that officers will try to take Manju on the trek today itself. However, heavy rainfall continue to pose a hurdle. It is dangerous to trek at the moment. It should be clear in an hour from now if the Dalit leader could embark on the journey today. Police have detained many protesters at Nilakkal.

Kerala police advised SP Manju, general secretary of Kerala Dalit Mahila Federation, not to embark on the trek today. However she refused and will begin the journey from Pamba once the weather improves. Kerala police said that Manju will get the same protection as the Telangana journalist. A day earlier, Andhra and Telangana based news anchor Kavitha Jakkala, was seen trekking up the hill wearing military fatigues and a helmet to protect herself from the crowd. Police officers had said that they will not be able to accompany her in the night, but promised full protection in the morning.

Meanwhile, Pathanamthitta District Collector P B Nooh said there was no tension at Sannidhanam. "A woman came for darshan. Some news channels followed her...Then a crowd gathered...That was the only issue," he said. The collector also dismissed as "rumours" reports that some young women were planning to trek the hills to reach the shrine. "There were some rumours (spread) through social media. We verified them...There is no confirmed report (on young women visiting the shrine) so far," Nooh said. It is the responsibility of the administration to facilitate the darshan of Lord Ayyappa for all devotees, the collector asserted. The Sabarimala temple complex had witnessed high drama and tense moments Friday when two women reached the hilltop with heavy police escort, but had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum following massive protests by Lord Ayyappa devotees. Kerala has been witnessing massive protests by Lord Ayyappa devotees opposing the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into the Sabarimala temple since the government decided to implement the apex court order.

A massive protest by devotees of Lord Ayyappa broke out near the Sabarimala Sannidhanam on Saturday following rumours that a woman from Tamil Nadu below 50 years of age climbed the hills to offer prayers to the presiding deity. The situation turned tense in the area, where section 144 was clamped, as devotees gathered in large numbers at 'Valiya Nadapandhal' to protest against the woman's entry into the temple. However, the tension was defused after the woman, who had come with her family members, convinced the protesters that she was above 50 years, and proceeded to the shrine. The woman carrying 'irumudikkettu' (holy bundle) climbed the 18 holy steps amid security cover to reach the temple and have 'darshan'.  

Kerala has been witnessing protests against the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into Sabarimala temple since the government had said it would abide by the ruling of the apex court. The agitation intensified since the shrine was opened for the five-day monthly pooja on October 17. On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench of the SC, headed by then chief justice Dipak Misra, lifted the centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine.

Reacting on Sabarimla entry row, actor Rajinikanth on Saturday said there should be no "interference" in temple traditions being followed for a long time, in his first response to the recent Supreme Court order on entry of women of all age groups into the Kerala shrine and the subsequent protests. Speaking to reporters here, he said there was no second opinion on equality for women in every sphere. "But when you talk about a temple, every temple has its time honoured rituals, besides traditions being followed for a long time. My humble opinion is that no one should interfere in that," Rajinikanth said. Noting that the top court verdict should be "respected", the 67-year-old actor however, indicated that caution should be exercised when it came to matters of religion and related rituals.

Earlier, a massive protest by devotees of Lord Ayyappa broke out near the Sabarimala Sannidhanam on Saturday following rumours that a woman from Tamil Nadu below 50 years of age climbed the hills to offer prayers to the presiding deity. The situation turned tense in the area, where section 144 was clamped, as devotees gathered in large numbers at 'Valiya Nadapandhal' to protest against the woman's entry into the temple. However, the tension was defused after the woman, who had come with her family members, convinced the protesters that she was above 50 years, and proceeded to the shrine. The woman carrying 'irumudi kettu' (holy bundle) climbed the 18 holy steps amid security cover to reach the temple and have 'darshan'

SP Manju, general secretary of Kerala Dalit Mahila Federation, has reached Pampa to go to Sabarimala. She said that she is there as an activist and not an activist. The federation also said that she is going in her personal capacity as a devotee.