Kochi: BSNL shunts out Rehana again after her 'Thank you' post

Kochi: Model and activist Rehana Fathima, who attempted to enter Sabarimala temple, has been yet again transferred by her employer BSNL hours after she posted on social media that her shifting from Kochi Boat jetty branch to Ravipuram the other day was indeed a "blessing of Ayyappa".

BSNL has now transferred Rehana, a junior engineer, to Palarivattom branch after she posted the 'Thank You' message on Monday night.

"Though I had applied for transfer to the branch near my house, the same was granted only after my trekking to Sabarimala….this is due to blessing of Lord Ayyappa. Earlier it took me 45 minutes to drive to office, now, it's only a two-minute walk," she said in her sarcastic post.

Ms Fatima, a phone mechanic at the boat jetty office, has now been deployed in a post that does not require interaction with customers. She was first transferred a day after she attempted to trek Sabarimala under police protection in the wake of the Supreme Court order that women of all ages should be allowed to enter the hill shrine. However, she had to back out at the last minute following strong opposition from devotes and right wing activists.

The BSNL has also initiated an internal probe following complaints that her social media posts are "communally divisive".

According to BSNL sources, further punitive action will be taken after completion of the internal inquiry.