SABARIMALA: Two women who attempted to enter Sabarimala temple were stopped by devotees by about 12 pm on Saturday near Appachimedu.

Andhra Pradesh Gundur natives Navojamma, 26, and West Godavari native Kripavathi, 42, had arrived along with a 15-member group.

While they were making their trek back to Pamba, more protests erupted.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested Rani Attikkayam Vettikkuzhy Subash (38), Karikulam Thottupurakkal Santhosh (45) and Makkappuzha Puthiyathu Meppurathu Mahesh (34), who had led the protests.

Police wonder how the women gave them a miss and walked up half the way to Sabarimala, despite the presence of high police security.

Certain devotees first protested after the women were spotted climbing the hill shrine without Irumudi. As they chanted aloud Saranam, more people started milling around the women.

Soon the police intervened and took them back to Pamba after convincing them of the lurking danger. Later they reportedly told the police that they had no plans to climb the 18 steps and they just wished to go till Sannidhanam as part of their pilgrimage.
From Pamba, they later went to the Nilakkal base camp.

Police added that the three persons taken into custody were RSS men and they were later allowed to go on station bail.