Mother-in-law beats up woman who entered Sabarimala

Kanakadurga engaged in a quarrel with her mother-in-law and was allegedly beaten up with a wooden plank

Kanakadurga, the 42-year old woman who entered Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala on January 2, has been allegedly beaten up by her mother-in-law in protest against her Sabarimala entry.

Kanakadurga was admitted to the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital with minor injuries on the head and ears on Tuesday. The Perinthalmanna police in Malappuram district in North Kerala registered a case against her mother-in-law Sumathi Amma, 70, in this connection.

Kanakadurga and Bindhu Ammini, who entered the Sabarimala on January 2, were so far staying at secret locations in various parts of the state under police protection owing to the threats they faced from certain quarters following their entry to the Ayyappa temple. The duo were the first women in the 10-50 age group to enter the temple after the Supreme Court lifted the restriction on women in menstruating age.

On Tuesday morning, Kanakadurga returned to her house at Angadipuram in North Kerala district Malappuram. It was alleged that her mother-in-law objected her entry. As Kanakadurga resisted it, Sumathi Amma allegedly beat up her using a wooden stick. A couple of police personnel who accompanied her immediately took her to a nearby government hospital and was later shifted to the Medical College Hospital.

Sumathi Amma later alleged that Kanakadurga had beaten her. She also approached a local government hospital seeking treatment.

However, Perinthalmanna police told DH that a complaint was received from Kanakadurga only in this connection. “We received a petition from Kanakadurga alleging that she was beaten by her mother-in-law and a case was registered against Sumathi Amma under various sections of Indian Penal Code. However, no counter-petitions from Sumathi Amma were received yet,” said a police officer.

Kanakadurga is an employee with the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation. She was planning to rejoin service on Wednesday after her leave.

Meanwhile, Bindhu Ammini, a native of Kozhikode district in North Kerala, is still keeping off from her house owing to threats from some local group. But from Monday onward she started going to the school of legal studies where she is working as assistant professor. Her husband Hariharan said that there was no protest against her from the family or at her workplace.