Kerala: Woman Who Entered Sabarimala Assaulted By In-Laws, Barred From Entering House

While Kanaka Durga created history by entering into the Sabarimala temple after the Supreme Court lifted the long-standing ban on women of menstruating age entering the temple, she now has been forced to take shelter at a One Stop Centre run by Social Justice Department after her in-laws refused to let her in.

Not allowed to enter house

The woman was not allowed to enter her husband’s house by her in-laws on Tuesday, January 22. Kanaka Durga’s mother-in-law assaulted her, following which she had to be admitted to the Kozhikode Medical College, reported NDTV. After her in-laws had locked her outside the house, Kanaka Durga filed a complaint with the District Violence Protection Officer, which has been forwarded to the court.

“It was my husband who decided not to let me in the house after I was discharged from the hospital. Now I am waiting for a court order till then the police have housed me in a government shelter house, One Stop Centre run by Social Justice Department,” said Kanaka Durga while talking to News18. She further stated that she would not enter her home until she receives a court order. Reportedly, her brother Bharat Bhooshan has said that she won’t be allowed to enter the house.

What had happened?

Nearly three months after the Supreme Court of India gave its monumental verdict which allowed women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple, two women under the age of 50, created history by entering the temple for the first time.

Despite the Supreme Court order, the temple was kept off-limits for women with devotees staging mass protests across the state. Reportedly, the two women, Bindu and Kanakadurga, both in their 40s, entered the temple in the wee hours of Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

Videos of the women hurrying into the shrine clad in traditional all-black clothing have also surfaced. The News Minute reported that the women were accompanied by the Kerala police and according to police sources, the women entered the temple through the north entrance which gets them directly into the shrine. Reportedly, the women avoided the traditional Pathinettam Padi route and the 18 steps which are climbed by the devotees. Additionally, the women chose late hours to minimise the risk of opposition and protests.

The women had earlier attempted to enter the temple on December 24 amidst mass protests, accompanied by a 50-member police battalion. While less than a kilometre away from the hilltop, the women were forced to climb down to the base camp at Pamba. Previously, other groups of women also made unsuccessful attempts to enter the temple.

Also Read: Kerala Observes ‘Black Day’ After Two Women Under 50 Enter Sabarimala