PAMBA —A Delhi-based journalist of The New York Times was forced to turn back from her trek towards Sabarimala temple amid protests by devotees.
PTI reported that Suhasini Raj began trekking to the Sabarimala hill amid protests by devotees opposing the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into the hill shrine.
News18 reported that Raj had to stop at Marakkoottam after protesters blocked her way. She was also stopped at Pamba, the report said, but she managed to get away from them.
PTI reported that the police threw a security ring around Raj who was accompanied by her colleague, a foreigner.
Local TV crews said Raj was in her late 40s and if she climbed the hill, she would be the first woman of menstrual age to visit the Sabarimala temple of Lord Ayyappa after the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter the shrine.
This comes after three women journalists were violently attacked by protesters on Wednesday.
No woman was able to enter Sabarimala Temple on the first day the temple opened after the Supreme Court judgement.