Pathanamthitta: A video showing RSS leader Valsan Thillankery controlling Sabarimala devotees at Sannidhanam has gone viral just when Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the complete control of the famous temple is in the hands of Kerala Police.

In the video, Thillankery is seen using the state police’s public address system to try to control the devotees. A police officer can be seen standing with a megaphone. This has also resulted in a backlash.

Earlier, a protest also was staged by Ayyappa devotees on Tuesday morning at Sannidhanam against several women due to doubts over their age. Some devotees claimed that a woman who reached the Sannidhanam was below the age of 50 and blocked her. She also did not have Irumudi Kettu with her. The woman who felt physical discomfort was shifted to the clinic at the Sannidhanam.

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Later the protesters claimed that she was not 52 years old, and did not have Irumudi Kettu. Then, when they came to know the truth, the protesters themselves provided security to the woman to visit the shrine.

The devotees are also controlling the crowd in Sabarimala. Usually, police are deployed in different shifts at the holy steps to help the pilgrims ascend the steps. But this time the devotees have been doing the duty instead of the police.