Emergency-like situation in Pathanamthitta; total number of arrests crosses 3700
The BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav said today (on November 3) that the Centre is considering different ways to find a solution to the Sabarimala imbroglio. “We are fully with the sentiments of devotees and will do everything possible to protect their interests. The Central government is watching the developments in Kerala,” Madhav told Janam TV.
Reports suggest that one of the ways the Centre is considering is an ordinance to protect the traditions in Sabarimala. Also, there are reports that the Centre might declare Sabarimala a national pilgrimage centre. Some legal experts suggest that the Centre can intervene if it finds that tradition is violated in the hill shrine, as it is one of the signatories in the covenant of 1949. According to the covenant, the Centre had assured other stakeholders – the Travancore royal family and Travancore Devaswom Board — that it would protect the traditions practiced in Sabarimala. However, Madhav did not spelt out what the step the Centre would take on resolving the row.
Meanwhile, an Emergency-like situation prevails in areas near Sabarimala and in Pathanamthitta district. More than 5000 police personnel have been deployed from Vadasserikkara to Sannidhanam ahead of puja on November 5. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Nilakkal, Elavunkal, Pampa and Sannidhanam. The police have also declared Pampa, Nilakkal and Sannidhanam as special security zones and they will be managed by special teams led by senior police officers.
The police also banned the entry of media from November 3 to November 5. Interestingly, the vociferous Left-leaning mediapersons who are virulent defenders of freedom of speech have not raised any objections to the government’s move.
Meanwhile, 12 young women workers of the CPI(M) have contacted the district administration to visit Sabarimala. Last time, despite their best efforts, the police and the government could not take any women activists to the Sannidhanam. This time, the police force is hell-bent to thwart all efforts of devotees to prevent this.
The police have launched a massive crackdown on devotees with the total number of arrests touching 3,701. So far 543 cases have been registered across the state. Women and children who took part in peaceful nama japa yatra were also arrested.
As per the directive of State Police chief Loknath Behera, an ADGP, two IGs, 5 SPs and 10 DySPs will be camping at Nilakkal and Pampa to oversee the security measures.
Discussion about this post