Supreme Court directs state government to provide round-the-clock security to two women who entered Sabarimala temple

They entered the temple by defying traditionalists who have opposed women of menstruating age from offering their prayers in the temple.

The two Bindu Ammini (40) and Kanakadurga (39) earlier claimed they fear that their lives were under threat since entering the hilltop shrine, creating a new chapter in the history of the temple.

They had petitioned the apex court seeking security.

Hailing the order, Ammini was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times, “Our faith in judiciary has increased manifold. The judiciary has come to our rescue at a time when certain sections of the society are treating us as criminals as if we committed a big sin. We did only what is permitted by the highest court of the country. The latest directive will encourage many other women to trek to the temple.”

“We were facing many threats. Even our children and relatives were not spared," she said.

The two women had gone two hiding for almost two weeks after they allegedly received threats from hardliners since entering the shrine.

Kanaka hospitalised after mother-in-law beats her:

Kanaka was admitted to a hospital recently after she was attacked by her mother-in-law.

According to reports, when Kanaka returned home after staying in hiding since her Jan 2 entry into Sabarimala, her mother-in-law hit her on the head.

Soon after the news of the two women's entry spread and protests began, Kanaka's husband had filed a missing report and her family disowned her, said reports.

The two women received death threats after their entry.

"I knew my life will be in danger but I still wanted to go into the temple," Kanaka Durga had told NDTV after her daring visit. "It's about devotion but it's also about gender equality."

She had said her family had strongly opposed her entry into the shrine.

Why is the controversy?

On Sept 28, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had lifted the ban on women's entry into the Sabarimala temple declaring the relevant rules as unconstitutional.

Following the top court's verdict, the shrine opened on Oct 18 for the first time allowing menstruating women, belonging to the age group of 10 to 50, to enter the temple.

However, several men and women had protested outside the temple, and tried to prevent the entry of women in the shrine.

Kerala witnessed protests after Kanaka and Bindu had entered the temple.