Sabari Endroru-ஆர்.நைனப்பன்
By
Cherry Kutty
Hawkers take over jungle paths
The jungle paths from Pamba to the Sabarimala shrine are now dotted with wayside vendors and hawkers who are fleecing the pilgrims in gross violation of the High Court order banning unauthorized hawkers along these roads.
As per the court order, only those with licenced from the Devaswam can open shops and conduct business here. However, vendors, mostly from Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Orissa, are doing brisk business, selling toys, ornaments and herbal drugs on the stretch between Pampa and Marakkottam on the Swamy Ayyappan road.
Authorized shop owners allege that police officials are turning a blind eye to these hawkers who grease their palms.
Namesake raids are conducted at regular intervals, they allege.
“These hawkers run into the jungles with their wares when police come and return to resume business after ensuring that police have left. There is a nexus between police and these vendors,” says a licensed shop owner, Sajeevan.
Interestingly, police is conspicious by its absence along this route. Infiltration of migrant hawkers also exposes holes in the security along these jungle routes to Pampa and Sannidanam, the areas that fall under a high security zone.
Earlier, it was reported that anti-national elements and fundamental outfits were camping in the forests near Sabarimala and Erumeli. “We will be deploying more policemen in the coming days,” said ADGP P Chandrasekharan.
Govt to beef up security during Makaravilakku
The dewaswam minister, Mr V. S. Sivakumar said that the security arrangements at Pampa and Sannidhanam would be bolstered during the Makaravilakku festival to prevent any tragedy like Pullumedu, which happened last year on the occasion of the festival.
More police personnel will be deployed at the places such as Paanchali para, Parunthum medu Uppupara, where the devotees throng to witness the makarayothi.
Makeshift barricades would be set up in these places to control devotees during the makaravilakku festival said minister while speaking in the meeting of the district level officers convened at Pathanamtta on Thursday.
The minister also instructed the officials to arrange sufficient drinking water and light for the devotees who stay back at Sannidhanam to witness the Makarajyothi.
There would be a facility to give instruction in five different languages through public announcement system on the occasion of the festival.
The minister said that ASCA light will be put in use at the places where there is no electric supply. It will benefit the pilgrims who camp at places in the forest for witnessing the makararajothi.
Assistance of forest and excise officials has also been sought for the dealing with the situation if any case of exigency, said Mr Sivakumar.
Special arrangements will be made at Nilakkal to provide drinking water to the devotees as it was came in to the notice there was acute shortage of drinking water supply here.
A special drinking water scheme at Nilakkal for effective supply of drinking water to the devotees is also in the pipeline and it will be materialized in the coming season.High-level meeting in the presence of CM will be convened after the Makaravilakku festival to evaluate the situations of previous season and discuss the future projects.
Construction of Nadapanthal from Pampa to Sannnidhanam and completion of queue complex will be discussed in the meeting. MPs. MLAs and additional chief secretary K. Jayakumar also participated.
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More police personnel will be deployed at the places such as Paanchali para, Parunthum medu Uppupara, where the devotees throng to witness the makarayothi.
Makeshift barricades would be set up in these places to control devotees during the makaravilakku festival said minister while speaking in the meeting of the district level officers convened at Pathanamtta on Thursday.
The minister also instructed the officials to arrange sufficient drinking water and light for the devotees who stay back at Sannidhanam to witness the Makarajyothi.
There would be a facility to give instruction in five different languages through public announcement system on the occasion of the festival.
The minister said that ASCA light will be put in use at the places where there is no electric supply. It will benefit the pilgrims who camp at places in the forest for witnessing the makararajothi.
Assistance of forest and excise officials has also been sought for the dealing with the situation if any case of exigency, said Mr Sivakumar.
Special arrangements will be made at Nilakkal to provide drinking water to the devotees as it was came in to the notice there was acute shortage of drinking water supply here.
A special drinking water scheme at Nilakkal for effective supply of drinking water to the devotees is also in the pipeline and it will be materialized in the coming season.High-level meeting in the presence of CM will be convened after the Makaravilakku festival to evaluate the situations of previous season and discuss the future projects.
Construction of Nadapanthal from Pampa to Sannnidhanam and completion of queue complex will be discussed in the meeting. MPs. MLAs and additional chief secretary K. Jayakumar also participated.
ADGP: Women cops broke rules
ADGP Mr P. Chandrashekaran has said that the two women civil police officers at Sabarimala had violated the High Court’s judgment when they had accompanied Minister Mr K.P. Mohanan and his team on the Neelimala stretch on Monday.
Traditionally, women between 10 and 50 are not allowed to climb Sabarimala.
The report submitted on the issue by Pampa Police Controller Mr S.P. Valsan stated that the officers had climbed till Sabaripeetom as it was recorded by CCTV cameras installed at various places along the Pampa - Sannidhanam stretch.
The violation might have taken place due to the ignorance of the police officer on duty.
The women cops were directed to accompany the team led by the Circle Inspector, Mr Muhammed Riyas, who was on duty at the Pampa Ganapathy Temple. A written explanation on the incident has been sought from the officer, the ADGP added.
He also said that no action would be taken on the women cops as they had only obeyed the orders of their senior officer. Further action on the senior officer would be taken after he submitted an explanation.
The incident had become controversial when pilgrims had protested at Sabaripeetom after they saw the civil officers accompanying the group of aged women who were with the minister.
One pilgrim dies at sannidhanam
One pilgrim died at Sannidhanam due to cardiac arrest on Tuesday afternoon.
The deceased was identified as D.V. Kodeswara Rao, 69 years, a native of Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh.
He was taken to Sahas Cardiology Centre at Sannidhanam after he suffered chest pain, where he breathed his last.
The dead body was transferred to Pampa Government Hospital to complete further formalities.
Kodeswara came to Sabarimala along with a group of fifty pilgrims, the police said.
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The deceased was identified as D.V. Kodeswara Rao, 69 years, a native of Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh.
He was taken to Sahas Cardiology Centre at Sannidhanam after he suffered chest pain, where he breathed his last.
The dead body was transferred to Pampa Government Hospital to complete further formalities.
Kodeswara came to Sabarimala along with a group of fifty pilgrims, the police said.
Two women officers enter banned area
Two women civil police officers created controversy after allegedly climbing Neelimala early Monday, violating the Sabarimala tradition. Ms Sheeja Beegum and Ms Divya were part of a 12-member civil police team that was deployed at Pamba to prevent women aged between 10 and 50 entering Sabarimala.
“It is confirmed that the two had climbed Neelimala in preliminary enquiry. The allegation is that the duo accompanied agricultural minister K.P. Mohanan and his team of thirty five people from Pamba to Neelimala. The minister’s team consisted eight aged women, including minister’s sister,” ADGP P. Chandrashekeran told this newspaper.
Valsan, SP (Pamba police controller) has been asked to submit a detailed report on the issue at the earliest. Verification of the recorded video clippings will take place to have a clearer picture on the issue, the ADGP added. The row kicked off after pilgrims shouted at the women civil police officers, who were found at Neelimala stretch, during the wee hours on Monday. It is learnt that Riyad Mohammed, circle inspector of the police, directed the two to escort the team.
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“It is confirmed that the two had climbed Neelimala in preliminary enquiry. The allegation is that the duo accompanied agricultural minister K.P. Mohanan and his team of thirty five people from Pamba to Neelimala. The minister’s team consisted eight aged women, including minister’s sister,” ADGP P. Chandrashekeran told this newspaper.
Valsan, SP (Pamba police controller) has been asked to submit a detailed report on the issue at the earliest. Verification of the recorded video clippings will take place to have a clearer picture on the issue, the ADGP added. The row kicked off after pilgrims shouted at the women civil police officers, who were found at Neelimala stretch, during the wee hours on Monday. It is learnt that Riyad Mohammed, circle inspector of the police, directed the two to escort the team.
Extra security on jungle route
“Devotees trekking through the traditional jungle route during makaravilakku festival would be given extra care and security," said Erumeli circle inspector C.J. Johnson,
Places such as Azhuthakkadavu, Kallidamkkunnu, Engipparakkotta, Mukkuzhi Temple, Koottakkallu, Vellaramchetta, Karimala top, Valiyanavattam are under the strict surveillance of Erumeli station, he said.
The number of pilgrims coming through the route is increasing every day.
Excise to intensify raids at Sabarimala
With the makaravilakku festival fast approaching, the excise officials have decided to intensify the raids at Pampa and Sannidhanam.
The department has received a tip-off that the workers at Sannidhanam are using tobacco products.
In a raid held at Sannidhanam on Monday, the excise seized 39 packets of cigarettes, 40 packs of beedi, 30 sachets of gutkha and 300 grams of tobacco.
“More raids will be conducted in coming days as Makaravilakku day is fast approaching. Strong action will be taken against those who possess liquor or tobacco,” said Mr V.K. Radhakrishnan, the assistant excise commissioner at Sabarimala.
Keeping tobacco products in custody at Sabarimala is a punishable offence.
The officials also asked the pilgrims to inform them on 04735202203, if they find anybody using tobacco products.
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Places such as Azhuthakkadavu, Kallidamkkunnu, Engipparakkotta, Mukkuzhi Temple, Koottakkallu, Vellaramchetta, Karimala top, Valiyanavattam are under the strict surveillance of Erumeli station, he said.
The number of pilgrims coming through the route is increasing every day.
Excise to intensify raids at Sabarimala
With the makaravilakku festival fast approaching, the excise officials have decided to intensify the raids at Pampa and Sannidhanam.
The department has received a tip-off that the workers at Sannidhanam are using tobacco products.
In a raid held at Sannidhanam on Monday, the excise seized 39 packets of cigarettes, 40 packs of beedi, 30 sachets of gutkha and 300 grams of tobacco.
“More raids will be conducted in coming days as Makaravilakku day is fast approaching. Strong action will be taken against those who possess liquor or tobacco,” said Mr V.K. Radhakrishnan, the assistant excise commissioner at Sabarimala.
Keeping tobacco products in custody at Sabarimala is a punishable offence.
The officials also asked the pilgrims to inform them on 04735202203, if they find anybody using tobacco products.
Heavy rains land pilgrims in soup
Sabarimala witnessed a heavy rush on Sunday. The picture shows long queues of pilgrims at Pampa. The hill shrine was reopened on Friday last in view of Makaravilakku festival - DC
As the temple opened for Makaravilakku festival and tension eased in the border districts over Mullaperiyar issue, pilgrims from Tamil Nadu started flowing to the temple, resulting in heavy rush in the last two days.
Removal of pilgrim shelters as part of the proposed Sabarimala Masterplan in and around Sannidhanam also left pilgrims without enough shelters to escape the heavy downpour.
The most affected were the elderly and the children.
Though a shelter was inaugurated at Pandithavalam, heavy rush along with rains made things tough for pilgrims who were waiting in the queue to have darshan.
Pilgrims who opted to walk along the Swamy Ayyappan Road ended up in misery as the road turned slushy.
Makaravilakku: PWD arranges open space
Sabarimala is all set to observe Makaravilakku festival on January 15. Compared to last year, more pilgrims are expected to throng Sannidhanam because of the restrictions imposed at Pulmedu.
“Maramath (Public Works Department) has arranged for an additional 25,000 sq ft open space to help pilgims have a smooth Makaravilakku darshan. Under the Sabarimala Masterplan, we have removed four cottages and ten pilgrim shelters at various points near Sannidhanam. This space can contain more than 3,000 pilgrims,” said a PWD official to DC.
Officials also appealed the pilgrims to keep Sabari Nandanam, a garden of rare flowers used for poojas at the shrine near Malikappuram, intact.
The garden gets destroyed during every Makaravilakku season as pilgrims who throng the garden break the compound nets to witness Makaravilakku.
Heart attack claims two
A pilgrim and a policeman died at Sabarimala of heart attack on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Subramanyam (75) a native of Anantapur, Andra Pradesh and Suresh Kumar (51), assistant sub-inspector of police and a native of Perumbavoor, Ernakulam.
Subramanyam was taken to the Cardiac Centre at Appachimedu soon after he complained of chest pain while climbing the hill around 3 pm.
Suresh Kumar, ASI of Kottappadi police station, Ernakulam Rural, who was on duty at Pampa was rushed to the Amrita Emergency Medical Centre at Pampa after he complained of discomfort at 7:30 a.m. But on the way to hospital he died.
The body of Suresh Kumar was taken to his home town, while body of Subramanyam was kept at Pathanamthitta GH.
Women constables in Sabarimala row
Two women police constables, carrying out their duties, find themselves in the eye of a storm and being accused of violating Sabarimala tradition by climbing Neelimala, a ritual reserved only for men and permitted only for elderly women .
Constables Sheeja Beegum and Divya were reportedly acting on circle inspector Riyad Muhammed's directions to escort a team of elderly women on their way to Neelimala, but in the process shocked other
pilgrims who allegedly spotted them on the Neelimala stretch early Monday morning.
“It is alleged the duo accompanied agriculture minister K. P. Mohanan and a team of 35 , including eight elderly women and the minister's sisters from to Pamba to Neelimala. Our preliminary inquiry shows the two did climb Neelimala,” ADGP P. Chandrashekeran told the Deccan Chronicle, however, adding that Valsan, SP, Pamba Police Controller had been asked to submit a detailed report on the issue and video clippings were being verified to clear the air.
The minister has meanwhile maintained that the women civil police officers accompanied the team only a short distance from Pamba.
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