SABARIMALA: Following hints that a team of women will be reaching Sabarimala this for darshan, Sangh Parivar members are reportedly keeping vigil at Pamba, Kananpatha and Sannidhanam. Many of them are said to have come as Ayyappa devotees.

Though the situation is apparently calm now, it may become volatile like during the last season.

Meanwhile, the police stand is that women need not be given special protection this time. Police provide security only if women come forward with special request for protection on the basis of the Supreme Court order.

Sabarimala temple opened for Kumbam month puja at 5pm on Tuesday. The temple was opened by head priest Vasudevan Namboothiri in the presence of Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru and lamp at Sreelakam was lit.

Police force have been deployed at Sannidhanam, Nilakkal and Pamba like during the last Sabarimala season. 375 police persons are deployed at Sannidhanam under SP V Ajith, 450 at Pamba under S P Manjunath and 500 at Nilakkal under SP P K Madhu.

By 1 pm on Tuesday, police had started sending devotees from Pamba to Sannidhanam.