MASSIVE PROTESTS AGAINST WOMEN ENTERING SABARIMALA; PROTESTERS STOP VEHICLES AT BASE CAMP

Hours ahead of the opening of Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, a woman attempted to hang herself from a tree in Thiruvananthapuram in protest against the Supreme Court's verdict allowing entry of women of all ages into the temple. The woman was saved by locals and police.

Simultaneously, the situation in the temple area remains tense as women devotees are reportedly being stopped at the base camp. Girls and women of menstruating age en route the shrine are being stopped or asked to get off their vehicles by protestors.

Several groups of devotees, including elderly women, are randomly "inspecting" cars, buses and taxis at Nilakkal, the base camp about 20 km from the Sabarimala hill top. 

Kerala: A woman attempted to hang herself from a tree in Thiruvananthapuram in protest against the Supreme Court's verdict over the entry of women of all age group in #SabarimalaTemple. She was saved by locals and the police. pic.twitter.com/HAth1nj0eB

— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2018

Besides private vehicles, devotees even stopped and inspected Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses and asked young women to get out of it. One of the woman agitator said, "No woman belonging to the banned age group of 10-50 will be allowed to travel further from Nilackal and offer worship at the shrine"

The Sabarimala Temple is all set to open for monthy pooja tomorrow. With just hours to go for the historic moment, it will be interesting to note how things pan out in the temple area.