On Friday after reports emerged regarding the arrest of 2000 Sabarimala devotees by the communist government of Kerala, a new report by Manorama Online tells about government’s plans to impose amount up to Rs 13 lakh on several arrested devotees for securing bail, alleged by the government of indulging in violence.
The report tells that several devotees have been accused by police of causing damage to a police vehicle and KSRTC or Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation buses. In order to secure bail accused will have to pay the amount from Rs 10,000 to Rs 13 lakh. The highest slab of fine, that is around Rs 13 lakh, has been fixed for the activist who allegedly pushed vehicle of Sannidhanam special officer SP Ajith in the ravine at Nilakkal.
The measures employed by the communist government seems unprecedented, in terms of a number of arrests and fines imposed by the government. The government has also issued look-out notice, circulated among all police stations for hundreds of devotees.
According to reports, Kerala High Court has taken cognisance of arrests and slammed Kerala Government Pinari Vijay’s government for relentless excess on devotees. Commenting upon plea filed by Suresh Kumar and Anoj Kumar of Sabarimala Achara Samrakshana Samithi, the court warned that the government will have to pay ‘’ heavy price’’ if any innocents are arrested.
Petitioners also claimed in front of the court that police had even harassed devotees, who were merely participating in Lord Ayyappa’s Nama Japa Yajnam.
Sabarimala Protests started after, Supreme Court delivered verdict lifting age-old custom of Sabarimala, which barred women from age of 10-50 from entering the temple. After the verdict, temple opened from October 17 to October 22, and several activists tied to enter the sanctum sanctorum but were stopped by thousands of devotees, who were trying to safeguard the age-old sanctity of the temple. This was followed by vicious man-hunt by Kerala government, who has made it clear that they will anyhow implement the Supreme Court’s verdict, no matter what means they have to employ.