A young Malikappuram (female Ayyappa devotee) with a banner at Sabarimala Temple
Devotees camping in Sannidhanam maintain round-the-clock vigilance. Some of them say, they have not slept more than a couple of hours since the last five to six days
A night of acute anxiety is over in Shabarimala. Last night (October 21) reports were spread that police would raid Sannidhanam past midnight and expel all devotees from there. Then mobile and internet would be jammed. As a first step, police asked media persons to leave the place, they complied. Janam TV alone remained there. SJR Kumar, state president of VHP, who has been camping in Sannidhanam since the last five days, told this correspondent that police created fear complex among media persons saying that devotees cadres would attack them. In the wake of these developments, devotees had a sleepless night. They were afraid, police would bring young women in a split of a second if they sleep.
The same time, large crows of devotees congregated in specific points throughout the state and resorted to Nama Japa for the success of their endeavours, that is the protection of the temple traditions.
Now, devotees are confident that government can not resort to any more adventures today. They cite reasons for it: First of, the temple will be closed at 10 pm tonight. Then, no more devotees are expected after mid-day. Even now, the flow is slimming. Police cannot smuggle in women of ages between 10 and 50 in the absence of huge crowds.
Kumar told, devotees are extremely firm in their stand. They are confident that they can stop the young women peacefully, using the power of Nama Japa. He added that, the divine power of Lord Ayyappa is once again proved. That is why the manpower, muscle power and police power of the LDF regime has not succeeded in their sinister attempts so far.
Interestingly, it is reported that today (October 22) no more women have approached the police seeking help to go to the shrine.
Still, huge police presence is seen everywhere. They are 500 strong in Nilakkal.CrPC 144 sill prevails. They afraid of the violation of 144 there any time. Devotees camping in Sannidhanam maintain round-the-clock vigilance. Some of them say, they have not slept more than a couple of hours since the last five to six days.
