Hartal in Kerala over Sabarimala issue evokes good response

The hartal called by Hindu outfits in Kerala over the Sabarimala issue evoked a good response with buses keeping off the roads and shops remaining closed Thursday.

Barring a few minor incidents of violence in which some Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses were pelted with stones, the day-long shutdown passed off peacefully, police said.

KSRTC operated services in the morning in some routes.

Hartal supporters blocked roads and forced shops to be closed in some places, they police said.

Private vehicles were seen plying in some parts of the state.

However, there was no major disruption to normal life as Thursday was a public holiday on account of "Mahanavami".

The hartal was called by Sabarimala Samarakashna Samithi, an outfit of Lord Ayyappa devotees, to protest against the state government's decision to implement the Supreme Court order allowing women of all age groups to enter the hill temple and the 'police lathicharge' at Nilackal, the base camp, Wednesday.

The BJP and its NDA partners have extended their support to the hartal call.

Antharashtriya Hindu Parishad led by Parvin Togadia has also called for a hartal demanding that the CPI-M led LDF government promulgate a law to get around the apex court verdict.

Special security arrangements were put in place at various locations including Pamba, Nilackal and Erumeli en route to the Sabarimala temple, located in Pathanamthitta district, officials said.

District authorities have promulgated ban orders under section 144 of CrPc in four places including Pamba and annidhanam (the temple complex) to check protests and violence.

Protesters opposing the apex court order allowing the entry of women of menstrual age group into the shrine turned violent at Nilackal and clashed Wednesday, leading to the police making the baton-charge to disperse them.

On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by then chief justice Dipak Misra, lifted the centuries-old ban on entry of women in the age group of 10-50 into the shrine.