The Sabarimala temple will close on Monday after the five-day monthly puja. The temple had opened its portals for monthly rituals on October 18 for the first time after the recent Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups into the shrine.

Meanwhile, according to an ANI alert, police officials have asked media in Sannidhanam and Pamba to vacate the area as they have received inputs about of a targeted attack being planned on the media.

The situation near Sabarimala temple in Kerala once again turned tense on Sunday morning as six more women reached Pamba seeking entry to the hill shrine.

Amid high drama, the devotees, up in arms against the Supreme Court order, chanting Ayyappa mantras blocked the six, all Telugu-speaking women, from reaching the famed shrine.

A 47-year-old woman suffered panic attack at the entrance of the temple after protesters surrounded and heckled her.

Though attempts had been made by some young women, including an activist, to enter the temple of the ‘Naishtik Brahmachari’, the eternally celibate deity, since Wednesday, the devotees backed by priests have stood their ground, saying they would not allow the tradition to be breached.

So far, not a single woman in the age group of 10 and 50 has so far reached the temple.

According to police sources here, 12 women in the 10-50 age group have so far been prevented from offering worship at the temple, since it opened for the monthly pooja.

Read | Sabarimala Temple Issue: Hindu organisations condemn Kerala govt, police

Meanwhile, the Sabarimala Karma Samithi has decided to strengthen its agitation against the CPI(M)-led Kerala government’s “hasty” move to implement the Supreme Court order.

The BJP has demanded a special assembly session to seek the Centre’s intervention, while the Congress sought an ordinance by the NDA government.

Thousands of people participated in the “namajapa yatra” (protest march chanting Ayyappa mantra) to police stations across the southern state against alleged police action on the samithi activists near Sabarimala last week.

Hundreds of women participated in a protest march held in Erumeli, a key pilgrim centre connected with Sabarimala.

Kerala has been witnessing a series of agitations by various devotee groups and Hindu outfits against the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s decision to implement the apex court order without going for any review petition.

(With agency inputs)