Police officers in charge of security in Sabarimala have reportedly told their superiors that protecting members of women activist groups intent on trekking up to the temple merely to make a political point would catalyse combative groups opposed to their entry and needlessly stretch finite police resources to the limit.
A senior officer, however, denied media reports that the police had “banned” the entry of “women activists” to Sabarimala till the busiest phase of the pilgrim season was over. The force was constitutionally bound to uphold the September 28 Supreme Court order allowing women between the age of 10 and 50 to worship at the temple, he said.