2 women return after threat from Sabari priests

"I believe I've come here to enforce the Supreme Court order. Those women have the right to visit the temple," Sreejith had said in the morning. "I am also an Ayyappa devotee," he had appealed to protesting devotees.

But the protesters refused to back down. Then the minister in charge of the Devaswom Board, which runs the temple, described the women as activists -- not devotees.

Devaswom Board Minister Kadakampally Surendran said any genuine devotee who wants to go up will be given protection. "But we will not allow activists to turn Sabarimala into a place to prove themselves," Surendran said.

Kavitha Jakkal, who works with Mojo TV in Hyderabad, started the climb in riot gear and a yellow helmet, ring-fenced from protesters by policemen.

Rehana Fatima, wearing black clothes and carrying the traditional prayer kit irumudikkettu offered to Lord Ayyappa, walked separately.
Her house in Kochi was vandalised by protesters, the police said. Both started the 4.6-km climb from the base camp Pamba.

Protests by devotees in the last two days to block women from entering the temple led to violence and clashes at the base camps of Nilakkal and Pamba.

Reporters were attacked, their vehicles damaged, and women who started the long climb forced to turn back amid threats and intimidation.

On Thursday morning, two journalists including an Indian woman of the New York Times who tried to reach the temple had to return after protesters blocked their way.