Two women from Andhra Pradesh in their early forties who started walking towards the Sabarimala temple today were stopped by protesters 200 metres from the base camp Pamba. Vasanthi, 41, and Aadhiseshi, 42, said the protesters surrounded them, blocked their way and forced them to return to the base camp, minutes after they started climbing towards the hilltop shrine of Lord Ayyappa in the Western Ghats. A third woman from Andhra Pradesh who walked alone for almost 4 km was heckled by protesters. Balamma, 47, suffered a panic attack and had to be taken to a hospital.
