Thiruvananthapuram: The police are planning to post one platoon of about 30 women police personnel at Nilakkal near Sabarimala as a precautionary measure as the Ayyappa temple opens on October 17 evening for the first time after the Supreme Court lifted the ban on women entry.
Additional policemen, including commandos, are also likely to be posted at Pampa and Sannidhanam, as there were chances of tension. Women police personnel would be deployed at Sannidhanam only in case women in considerable numbers turn up at the temple.
The police intelligence wing had alerted the police to be more cautious as there were chances of law and order issues over entry of women. The temple will be open till October 22 for the poojas of the Malayalam month of Thulam.
The state government and Travancore Devaswom Board had already made it clear that they would implement the SC order lifting the entry ban on females between the age of 10 and 50. The police also said that they would ensure protection to women turning up. But the general anticipation of the government, Devaswom Board and police were that not many women would turn up.
However, police sources said that the entry of at least one woman could trigger tension as a large section of believers as well as the Congress and BJP had openly opposed the entry of women between 10 and 50. Another concern of the police was that even the entry of women who just crossed 50 could trigger tensions as hardcore believers may raise suspicions over the age. Till the previous time of temple opening about a dozen of women police personnel used to be posted at Pampa to prevent any women between 10 and 50 proceeding towards the hill shrine. However, such a check could not be imposed this time.
Usually only minimum police deployment used to be made at Sabarimal when the temple opens for monthly poojas.
