Three young women gheraoed in Kochi Press Club

Three young women devotees of Lord Ayyappa, who had expressed desire to visit the Sabarimala temple after the Supreme Court judgement, on Monday faced the wrath of the protesters outside the Kochi Press Club, where the trio met the media.

Reshma Nishanth and Shanila Satheesh from Kannur and V.S. Dhanya from Kollam made it clear that they are not ready to wait for the tempers to cool down to fulfill their wishes of praying before Lord Ayyappa.

“Our visit to Sabarimala is not with an intent to turn shrine into a war zone. We want to go and pray at the temple, but with the support of the devotees. We appeal to the people to help us,” the women said, clearly indicating that they will not proceed to Pamba like they did earlier.

As soon as the trio reached the press club, members of the BJP Mahila Morcha and Sabarimala Karma Samithi shouted slogans against the women. With the situation going out of control, the police asked the three women to stay put at the press club premises. The women later left with police protection.

Addressing the media, Nishanth narrated her ordeal. “I am not able to leave my house. Even if step out, people say I am going to Sabarimala. We can’t take the psychological pressure,” she said.

They said attitude of their friends and relatives changed after they announced their intention to visit Sabarimala. “Why are we being hounded?” Shanila asked.