36-year old Dalit activist woman claims to have offered prayers at Sabarimala shrine
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 9: A 36-year-old woman from Kerala Wednesday claimed she has trekked Sabarimala and offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa shrine.
The chief minister's office and the police, however, refused to confirm the woman's claim that she visited the shrine Tuesday.
Manju, a native of Chathannoor, made the claim in a Facebook post, saying she prayed in front of the presiding deity on Tuesday and none of the devotees present there protested.
"I started the trip from Thrissur and visited the shrine on January 8. I spent almost two hours at the Sannidhanam (main temple complex). I also sought help from the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham members who happily helped me to offer prayers," she claimed.
The state had been on boil since January 2, when two women of menstrual age entered the hilltop shrine in the wee hours escorted by police personnel, three months after the Supreme Court lifted a ban on entry of girls and women in the 10-50 age group.
A Lankan woman below 50 years also succeeded in entering the temple a couple of days later.
BJP and right-wing outfits, who have been protesting against the state government's decision to implement the September 28 order of the apex court, intensified the agitation, leading to widespread violence after Kanakadurga and Bindu entered the shrine.
The protests also saw return of political violence after a gap with houses of BJP-RSS and CPI(M) leaders coming under country-made bomb attacks in the past few days.
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UP: Baghpat murder accused arrested after encounter
Baghpat (UP) (PTI): A murder accused was arrested on Tuesday, following a police encounter in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district, officials said.
During the encounter in the Baraut area, a head constable, Virendra, was injured, following which the police opened retaliatory fire, shooting the accused, identified as Irfan, in the leg, police said. Both are undergoing treatment at a district hospital.
Additional Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar Chauhan said Irfan was wanted for beating to death his neighbour, Shoaib, over a water dispute.
Based on a complaint filed by the victim's father, Aas Mohammad, a case was registered against Irfan and four others, Dilshad, Rehan, Rohin alias Irm, and Israna.
Chauhan said Irfan had been absconding since the incident on Monday, following which multiple police teams were deployed to nab the accused.
Acting on a tip-off that he was planning another crime, police laid a cordon.
"When confronted, the accused opened fire at the police, injuring head constable Virendra. In retaliatory firing, the accused was shot in the leg and apprehended," the officer said.
Police said an illegal country-made pistol, a live cartridge and an empty shell were recovered from him.
Chauhan said efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accused.
