KOTTAYAM: Bindu, native of Koyilandi and Kanaka Durga, native of Malappuram have informed that they are no longer planning to visit the Sabarimala temple as the police have clarified that they will not provide protection for the women.

Trouble broke out early on Monday, when police accompanying the two women clashed with angry pilgrims. The pilgrims had blocked the women devotees, who are below 50, from proceeding ahead for their darshan.

The police had to resort to lathi-charge and shield Malappuram native Bindu and Kannur native Kanaka Durga as angry Ayyappa devotees chanted slogans and approached them menacingly.

The 100-member police team managed to take the two up the pathway but got stranded in the milling crowd of dvotees at around 8 a.m. At this time they were just about one kilometre away from the shrine. Thousands of devotees formed a wall of protest, chanting Ayyappa hymns and shouting slogans and very much determined not to allow the two to go any further.

Protests went on close to two hours. Police and women trekkers were finally forced to retreat. Bindu and Kanaka Durga were physically weak to trek down the hills. Police had to carry Kanaka Durga on a stretcher. Bindu was helped down the hill by women police. They were taken to Pampa where Kanaka Durga underwent medical examination. Both of them were then taken to Kottayam Medical College in an ambulance.

Speaking to the media, Bindu, an advocate, said Sabarimala tantris are not above the Supreme Court. "I want to pray at the temple and I don't think the law of tantri is above the law of the land," said Bindu.

The temple town has witnessed protests by Hindu groups since the September 28 Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of all ages to enter the temple, including those from the hitherto banned age group of 10 to 50 years.

Ever since the verdict, around three dozen women from the hitherto banned age group have tried and failed to go up the pathway leading to the temple, following protest from the believers.

On Sunday, 11 women from Tamil Nadu in that age group failed to reach the temple, after massive protests broke out against them forcing the police and the women to flee to safety.