Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s Deputy General of Police Loknath Behra informed that 500 women police officers would be deployed in Sabarimala following the Supreme Court verdict. Around 500 women police officers will have to be deployed along the Nilakkal-Pampa and Pampa- Sannidhanam route. Selected women officers will be given training to undertake various duties. The major challenge before the police is crowd management in the upcoming season. 

“Work and faith are separate. Women police will be at sannidhanam (sanctum sanctorum) when the temple is opened for the monthly poojas of Thulam (Malayalam month). There is no difference between women and men in the police force,” he added.

Difference of opinion emerged between state and central leaders of the Congress concerning the historical judgment of the Sabarimala temple case. The central leaders are supporting the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all age groups into the Sabarimala shrine, but the state leaders are planning on launching a hunger strike against the verdict. 

The Congress in Delhi on Wednesday denied that there was any contradiction in the party's stand at the national and the state level regarding the Supreme Court order allowing the entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.