Woman who prayed at Sabarimala attacked with pepper spray

The group of women arrived in Kochi in the wee hours on Tuesday and reached the Commissioner's office to seek protection for visiting Sabarimala.

Ammini stepped out of the office to collect some files from a car when a man, Srinath Padmanabhan, ambushed her, The News Minute reported.

Visuals show Ammini shielding her face as a man attacks her with pepper spray.

Reportedly, a group of protestors had gathered outside the Commissioner's office after learning that Desai had arrived in Kochi with other women. Padmanabhan was among the protestors.

Following the attack, the protestors clashed with Ammini and the police had to intervene.

She was taken to the General Hospital in Ernakulam, and he was later arrested by Kochi Police.

To recall, earlier this month, the Supreme Court heard a batch of petitions challenging its 2018 verdict which lifted the ban on women of menstruating age (ages 10-50) entering Sabarimala temple, the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa.

The court referred the case to a larger seven-judge bench, however, did not stay its 2018 verdict, i.e., the ban remains lifted until the court's further notice.

Notably, Ammini and Kanakadurga had successfully reached the Sabarimala shrine and offered prayers in January earlier this year. It was their second attempt.

Meanwhile, Desai made an unsuccessful attempt to enter the shrine in November last year.

She plans on offering prayers at Sabarimala on Wednesday as it marks the Constitution Day.

"I'll leave Kerala only after offering prayers at the shrine," Desai said.