KK Shailaja, Kerala Minister, gets it right: Speaking to news agency ANI, she said, "I can predict what is going on there (Sabarimala), I think it is intentional. It's dirty politics they (protesters) are playing. We can't say if they are actual devotees. Supreme Court's order is Constitutional and the govt is bound to implement it."


Some women journalists faced the ire of a section of protesters agitating against the Supreme Court order allowing entry of women of all age into the Sabariamala temple and their vehicles attacked Wednesday.


The women reporters of two national TV channels on their way to Pamba for news coverage were blocked by a violent crowd which was seen banging their cars while shouting they go back as a tense situation prevailed in the area. The journalists were forced to get out of the vehicles by the crowd of men, protesting against the apex court order lifting the ban on entry of women in the age group of 10-50 to enter the famous hill temple of Lord Ayyappa at nearby Sabarimala. Police intervened and escorted them to safety.


In another incident, a woman reporter of an English online media organisation was asked to get down from a state-owned KSRTC bus, one of the entry points to the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa which opened for the first time Wednesday after the apex court order.


The crowd which virtually took control of the Nilackal area also hurled stones at vehicles, including the KSRTC buses on way to Pamba. Stones were also pelted at Police vehicles.