With less than nine hours left for the opening of the Ayyappa Temple ahead of the ‘Chithira Aattathirunal’ festival, the sacred grove of Sabarimala and adjoining areas of Pampa and Nilackal have been brought under tight police security.
This follows statewide protests launched by various Hindu organisations against the Supreme Court verdict permitting entry for all women to Sabarimala.
Media persons were stopped at Nilackal, 16 km away from Pampa, as part of the security arrangements on Sunday. They were allowed to proceed to Pampa only by 8.30 p.m. on Sunday after protesting.
Neelimala point cordoned
The police have cordoned off the Neelimala entry point to the Sabarimala trekking path, to check the pilgrims from undertaking the trek to the holy hillock till 2 p.m.
The Inspector General of Police, M.R.Ajithkumar, is camping at Sannidhanam and Ahok Yadav, IG, is heading the police force at Pampa.
The District Police Chief, T.Narayanan, told The Hindu that all Pampa-bound vehicles are subjected to police checking and surveillance from Vadasserikkara onwards.
The Melsanthi, A.V.Unnikrishnan Namboodiri, will open the sanctum in the presence of the tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu. The temple will be closed after the Athazhapooja on Tuesday evening.