Kozhikode: Teacher faces threat to life after returns from Sabarimala

Kozhikode: Bindu Thankam Kalyani who returned from Sabarimala after an unsuccessful attempt to have a darshan has approached the police complaining that she has been receiving life threats. Ms Bindu said a group of unidentified people came and threatened her friend while she was staying at friend's apartment at Chevayur on her way back from Sabarimala on Tuesday morning. 

"They rained abuses on my friend," Ms Bindu told DC. "The threat was that the flat would be destroyed if I would be given shelter. I called the police who took me to the station and provided protection. Some people are chasing and threatening me even now."

When the news of Ms Bindu reaching Erumeli came to be known through media on Monday, right wing Hindu Aikaya Vedi activists took out a protest march to her rented house at Kovoor and to the Government Higher Secondary School on medical college campus where she is teacher at HSS section. "I was told by my colleagues that it was a scary atmosphere at the school," she said but denied reports that the school authorities asked her not to come to school. Her house owner was also warned of dire consequences if he gave her shelter. 

Ms Bindu said that she had to stop her journey enroute Pamba as several men and women, led by BJP leaders, blocked the KSRTC bus she was travelling in with police escort. "I reached Erumeli and sought police protection. The police took me to Mundakayam station where my visit was known to some BJP men and they protested there violently. The police then took me to Pamba with a few civil officers on escort," she said. 

Ms Bindu, who hails from Nedumkandam in Idukki district, says that she is a Dalit activist. She also alleged that some policemen had deliberately let protesters to manhandle her. 

Meanwhile, Reshma Nishanth and Soorya Devarchana, who were on their vruta to go to Sabarimala said that they are not disappointed by the blocking of women and they would go. "There is no change in my decision. I am keeping the vruta," said Reshma. Reshma said a group had organised a protest against her at her locality, Cherukunnu in Kannur but it did not take place due to heavy rain. 

Devarchana's friend has filed a complaint at Chengannur police saying that some had propagating sleazy pictures of him and Devarchana in social media as an attempt to defame them. Further, the plaint says that the same accused had threatened the parents of Devarchana.