NILAKKAL: As the doors of Sabarimala is set to open for Tulam month pujas today (Wednesday) evening, police have demolished the strike pandal of Nilakkal Sabarimala Samrakshana Samithy.

Today morning at around 6 in the morning, the strikers were removed from the spot by a police team led by ADGP Ananda Krishnan and the pandal was demolished. Police had to wave lathi at protestors who tried to block the police from removing the pandal.

At around 3:30 in the morning, strikers blocked vehicles that came towards Sabarimala. There was minor skirmishes between strikers and police after that. As the strike showed signs of worsening, two battalions of policewomen were deployed at Nilakkal and Pamba. Thanthri family’s prayer meeting will also take place in Pamba today.

No private vehicles are being allowed to enter Pamba but KSRTC buses are running services till Pamba. Security has been tightened at Nilakkal by deploying more police forces in the area.

Yesterday, the police had taken into custody three persons who had blocked vehicle at Nilakkal. Pilgrims will allowed into the hillock to Sannidhanam only today afternoon. A high-level meeting under ADGP discussed the security to be provided to women if they reach Sabarimala.

Meanwhile, Devaswom board minister Kadakampally Surendran has arrived at Sannidhanam. He will hold a meeting to take stock of the arrangements made before opening the temple.

In between, Ayyappa Dharma Sena president Rahul Eswar and his grandmother who reached Nilakkal was blocked by the police, creating tension in the area. About 100 devotees accompanied them. Later, their vehicle was allowed to go.

Anyone can go to Sabarimala: DGP

DGP Loknath Behera has said that anyone can go to Sabarimala and strong action will be taken against people trying to block the devotees. “The police duty is to execute the Supreme Court order. No one has the right to take law into their own hands.”
IG Manoj Abraham has also reached Sabarimala. “Women reaching Sabarimala will be provided total protection. Police ready to meet any exigency,” he said.