Salem: A 42-year-old devotee of Lord Ayyappa at Sabiramala in neighbouring Kerala, was arrested by police near the Salem collectorate on Wednesday, for beginning a protest fast against the recent Supreme court judgment that allows women of all ages to visit and offer worship at the forest shrine.
The protester, Thirumurugan, working as an assistant in a private Siddha hospital in Salem, took the police by surprise when he walked to the district collectorate this morning with a 'Save Sabarimala' placard in English and sought to begin a fast bang on middle of the road, the express his disapproval of the Apex court's order.
Even as his behavior created a flutter in the area, police rushed to the spot and quizzed him as to why he was undertaking a fast. Expressing resentment over the Supreme court order, Thirumurugan told the police that his fast was to "restore the ancient custom and tradition" practiced in the Sabarimala temple where women of the menstruating age, between ten and 50 years were not allowed. "Women of all ages should not be allowed into the temple," he asserted.
When policemen doing duty at the Salem collectorate asked him whether he had prior permission to go on a fast, Thirumurugan replied in the negative. Thereupon, the police asked him to vacate the place, which the faster resisted.
Police then had no option but to bodily lift Thirumurugan and take him to the nearest police station where he was interrogated further.
