Protests near Sabarimala turn violent, 2 female journalists injured

Nilackal: Police used lathis after protesters opposed to the entry of women in the 10-50 age group to the Sabarimala temple turned violent and attacked journalists covering the stand-off here on Wednesday.

Two female reporters, working for Republic TV and Aaj Tak, were injured when the protesters turned their ire on the media contingent.

At Nilackal, activists belonging to the BJP, Congress, and Hindu groups are protesting the Supreme Court verdict allowing women aged 10-50 to pray at the Sabarimala temple, reversing a long-standing tradition.

The demonstrators were forcibly turning back stray women visiting the shrine despite police assurances that no one will be prevented from taking part in the pilgrimage.

Police tried to calm the protesters but they pelted stones on them, prompting the lathi-charge.

This further enraged the protesters, who smashed the window panes of a police vehicle which was carrying away the injured female journalists.

The protesters chased out another female journalist, working for a news portal, from a bus headed to the temple town.