Kerala police officer in trouble for post criticising President Droupadi Murmu's Sabarimala visit

Thiruvananthapuram: A police officer in Kerala has landed in trouble over a social media post criticising the restrictions imposed at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in connection with President Droupadi Murmu's temple darshan on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

R Manoj Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Alathur in Palakkad district allegedly made the controversial post as WhatsApp status on Wednesday. Palakkad district police chief sought an explanation from him.

Kumar is learnt to have maintained that a message he received as forward was made his WhatsApp status by mistake and he had withdrawn it soon after it came to his notice.

Restrictions imposed on pilgrims and the special privileges given to the President at the temple were criticised in the social media post.

"Even as the directives said that no one should be given VIP treatment at Sabarimala and should be allowed the trek in vehicles, Sangh Parivar or Congress were not staging any protest even as those 'customs' were flouted by the President and her security personnel," said the post that was later withdrawn.

Congress alleges security lapse at helipad

Meanwhile, Congress on Wednesday alleged that there was serious security lapse as the helicopter in which the President landed in Pathanamthitta on Wednesday got stuck at the newly-laid helipad.

Pathanamthitta MP Anto Antony of the Congress accused the police of failing in drawing up an alternative travel plan in advance. He also claimed that even stray dogs could be seen approaching towards the President's helicopter.

Videos and photos of the police and fire and rescue personnel pushing the helicopter that got stuck in the concrete have gone viral since then.

The helipads were made overnight at Pramadom in Pathanamthitta after the operation of the helicopter to Nilakkal near Sabarimala was found to be difficult owing to bad weather.

State police chief Ravada Chandrasekhar denied the allegations of security lapses. He said that the helicopter landed slightly away from the designated spot and hence it had to be pushed. Since the concreting work was done late, it did not cure properly, he added.