With the Sabarimala women entry controversy simmering ahead of the peak pilgrim season, the State Cabinet on Wednesday decided to appoint a full-fledged coordinator with powers of Additional District Magistrate to coordinate the functioning of all government departments and agencies at Sabarimala, Pampa and Nilackal.
Incumbent Devikulam Subcollector V.R. Premkumar will assume charge as the coordinator.
This is for the first time that the government is appointing a full-time coordinator with powers of a magistrate under Section 20(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
According to sources, the coordinator will be in charge of law and order in Sabarimala during the pilgrim season.
Youth arrested
Meanwhile, the Sannidhanam police on Wednesday arrested a 36-year-old youth, identified as Sooraj of Elanthoor near here, for allegedly blocking and attacking a woman pilgrim and her grandson at Sabarimala during the protests staged by a group of people at the Sannidhanam on Tuesday.
District Police Chief T.Narayanan said the arrest was made on charges of outraging the modesty of woman (Section 354 of the Indian Police Act) and for murder attempt (Section 308 of the IPC). Mr. Narayanan said the police registered cases against 150 people in connection with the violent protests at the Sannidhanam on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Women’s Commission has condemned the attempts by protesters to prevent women from worshipping at the Sabarimala temple.
BJP to launch yatra
The BJP-led NDA will launch its Sabarimala Raksha Rath Yatra from Madhur in Kasaragod on Thursday.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will flag off the yatra which will culminate at Pathanamthitta with a rally on November 13.