In a dramatic move, police on Sunday used force to arrest and remove a section of protesters and paved way for women activists attached to ‘Maniti’ to proceed to the Sabarimala trekking path by 11.15 a.m.
However, the police had to rush back them to the guard room and then to the police control room at Pampa in the next few minutes as they faced stiff resistance from another group of belligerent protesters who blocked their entry to Neelimala,.
Ayyappa devotees too joined the protesters and raised 'go back' slogans against the women pilgrims.
They were forced to retreat from Pampa as the police were not able to ensure their protection following mounting protests from the Ayyappa devotees.
A batch of five women were sent to Nilackal in a KSRTC bus and the remaining members too are likely to follow suit.
The women literally took to their heels and crossed river Pampa seeking security from the police control room there as they faced vehement protests from the irate mob.
The situation took a violent turn when a section of protesters advanced towards the woman activists at the Neelimala path as they tried to move ahead.
After ‘Maniti’ leader Selvi insisted that the police should give it in writing that they were unable to provide protection to the Sabarimala-bound 11-member women group, the police were left with little option but to arrest the protesters.