Nilackal (Kerala): As the doors of the Sabarimala sanctum open for five days for women devotees, as per the Supreme Court orders, a massive mob gathered at Nilakkal, showing retaliation, protest, raising slogans and chanting the Ayyappa mantra,

Nilakkal is said to be the gateway to Sabarimala.

As a part of reporting, the reporters and media crew were assigned at various spots namely, Nilakkal, Pamba and the Sanctum itself.

According to the guidelines of the police, after Nilakkal, the private vehicles were prohibited to avoid any unusual circumstances. The KSRTC buses were arranged from the gateway till Sabarimala.

The protestors from Nilakkal were dispersed as they began crossing the limits. To maintain the law and order situation, the police used force.

Rahul Easwar, an activist and leader of the “Save Sabarimala” campaign kept a surveillance over three places, yesterday and were not allowing vehicles which had women devotees in it.

The Co-founder and Editor-In-Chief of “The News Minute” Dhanya Rajendran who went live on October 17 afternoon on Facebook slammed the protestors and said, “The women devotees who were moving towards Sabarimala were stopped and heckled. A reporter of ours, Saritha Balan was surrounded by a mob of 20 men and pushed down from the bus, in spite of a ring of police protection.”

“She was later kicked on her back and was abused with worst language possible”, she added.

Enraged on Rahul Easwar, who was leading the campaign, she said, “Is this what Rahul Easwar and the Ayyappa devotees have been propagating from these many years? In spite of giving you space to pose your opinion in various media sections, you will abuse women reporters and women on the whole?”

A video which was uploaded by CNN News 18, shows how their reporter Radhika Ramaswamy and crew were attacked while they were travelling towards Sabarimala. In spite of the police trying to handle the situation, the mob vandalised the car and completely shattered the window and glass panes. The equipment was damaged too. Police, on the other hand, were mute spectators.

This video was reported from the Nilakkal base camp.

It is also observed that even after Radhika convinced the mob in the local language Malayalam, that they would turn back, the mob did not budge and repeatedly damaged the car and also tried to physically abuse Radhika. In the video, it is heard clearly, where Radhika calls up to her office and confirms that a glass bottle was thrown at her.

According to the sources from The News Minute and CNN News 18, Radhika is completely shattered and horrified by the instances. She had emotionally broke down and was left with no protection as the police personnel was standing helplessly.

Meanwhile another woman reporter, who is the South Bureau Chief of the Republic TV, Pooja Prasanna was attacked at the Nilakkal base.

A mob which consisted of over 100 men had attacked Pooja Prasanna’s car and vandalised it.

While she connected to the newsroom, she confessed saying, “Even with the police protection around, the mob constantly kept attacking the car and also the police. Apart from me, two other women reporters were attacked.”

She also made it clear by pointing out the precautionary measures. She said, “We had made an appeal in writing that we would want a police protection during the coverage, as we were not allowed to move towards the Sabarimala temple. Inspite of protection, nothing paid off.”

According to the latest updates, the women reporters who are now taken to a police station are saying they are unsafe there too.. The mob is trying to enter the police station as well.

This was confirmed by The News Minute Editor-In-Chief Dhanya Rajendran.

Kerala DGP Lokanath Behara has said that an FIR is being already registered against the miscreants and that they would be arrested soon.