Sabarimala row: Steady flow of pilgrims to temple

SANNIDHANAM: Despite police arresting 82 protesters on Saturday, the flow of devotees to Sannidhanam remained steady on Sunday amid strict vigil.

Though the rush that increased by the weekend had dropped on Sunday morning, there was heavy rush for a few hours soon after the 'nada' was opened at 3pm. As many as 82 protesters who were arrested on Saturday night were granted bail on Sunday as police booked them for unlawful assembly, rioting and section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of IPC for violation of prohibitory orders.

Officials said that arrests were being made when such 'bhajans' are done in a way obstructing the darshan of devotees and violating prohibitory orders even after a warning.

"Some areas are marked as sterile, which includes the area in front of the temple complex and the road leading to Malikappuram from here. We are clearly telling them that you are violating a prohibitory order and there would be action unless they go back to somewhere else, like Annadana mandapam to chant. The arrests happen when they refuse to pay heed to these requests," said Prejish Thottathil, DSP in-charge.

He added that they were not interfering in normal darshan of devotees. "Genuine devotees are still engaging in chanting in these areas in a peaceful manner and we are not interfering as it doesn't affect the others. On Saturday night, when the arrested people staged a sit-in next to the barricades, it blocked the way of several devotees. They were hence told the reason for the arrest, before taking them to Pamba," said Thottathil.

Travancore devaswom board (TDB) on Sunday said that the reports of H1N1 at Sannidhanam were baseless and spread with malicious intent. "The fever reported among employees, police personnel, journalists and devotees is normal sickness due to the weather. Spreading of false news about H1N1 is done with malicious intent," said TDB public relations officer Suni Arumanoor.

The health department has started awareness campaigns against possible communicable diseases in the hill top.

Meanwhile, police tightened security at the courtyard in front of the temple complex around 9pm to avoid possible untoward incidents. Following the high security cover, a group of about 20 men, which staged 'namajapa' protest remained near Malikappuram temple where devotees keep viris. As they didn't venture into the sterile zone, police ignored them and they dispersed soon after Harivarasanam.