New Delhi: The Union home ministry had warned them. But Kerala and two other state governments did not take the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s advisory regarding the law-and-order situation seriously, even when cautioned about the presence of Left-wing extremist (LWE) groups campaigning in favour of women's entry into Sabarimala temple.

The ministry had asked the DGPs and chief secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala to make appropriate arrangements when the gates were opened for women on October 15.

The letter exposes the state governments’ laxity — that of the Kerala administration in particular — in maintaining law and order.

The MHA, in its advisory, had also said that many devotees of Lord Ayyappa had planned protests on October 17. Yet, the Kerala government did not take precautionary measures.

"As per the information received, comprehensive security arrangements would be required at the Sabarimala Shrine on the date of its opening for monthly rituals on 17.10.2018, in the backdrop of the State Government's decision to implement the recent order of Hon'ble Supreme Court to allow women of all ages to visit the shrine and wide-spread protests against the same from various quarters," the MHA had said in its advisory to the states sent on October 15.

"Certain civil/women's rights activists, Left parties/fronts and pro-LWE groups have been campaigning in favour of women's entry into the shrine and actively using women to do so on 17.10.2018. While opposing groups/activists have threatened that they would not allow entry of women inside the shrine on that day," the MHA wrote to all the three states' top bureaucrats.

The MHA had also said that some Hindu outfits might organise protests on October 17 and may organise state-wide protests.

“Hindu outfits plan to organise protest programmes on 17.10.2018 against Hon'ble Court's order at Nilackal village in Pathanamthitta district and Erumeli village in Kottayam districts. Separately, Ayyappa devotees, Hindu outfits and certain caste-based outfits have been organising state-wide protest against the Hon'ble court's order. Participation in these protests has ranged from 50-3,000, including participation of sizeable number of women. Hindu outfits have also organied a few protest programme in neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka," the MHA advisory said.

Despite this prior advisory — with details of protest and groups — no necessary precautionary measures were taken by the Kerala government to maintain law and order.

Even some Twitter users got a whiff of the conspiracy hatched by the leftist cabal the MHA had warned three states about.

The MHA had asked Kerala to issue necessary prohibiting orders to prevent anti-social elements from misusing social media and internet services for propaganda and execution of their plans. The LDF government of Kerala led by CPI(M)’s Pinarayi Vijayan did not pay heed to this advisory either.