Kerala on boil over Sabarimala row, Centre advises to bolster security

Two women, a journalist and a social activist, started their climb to the Sabarimala hill Friday morning along with police security as protesters waited ahead for them. (Express photo by Vignesh Krishnamoorthy

READ LIVE UPDATES | Will shut shrine if women climb temple, says head priest

As protests continued and violence intensified on the second day since Sabarimala temple opened its doors, the Travancore Devaswom Board on Thursday said it was ready for any compromise to bring peace to the hill shrine, including a review petition in the top court. (Express photo by Vignesh Krishnamoorthy)

READ LIVE UPDATES | Will shut shrine if women climb temple, says head priest

A 40-year-old woman from Kazhakootam near Trivandrum at Pamba expressed her wish on Friday to climb the hill to the shrine. The police are trying to reason with her and explaining her the security complications and chances of violence in case she proceeds towards the temple. (Express photo by Vishnu Verma)

READ LIVE UPDATES | Will shut shrine if women climb temple, says head priest

Sabarimala chief priest Kantararu Rajeevaru said he will shut the shrine and hand over the keys to management if women of menstruating age climbed up the 18 steps to the temple. (Express photo by Vignesh Krishnamoorthy)

READ LIVE UPDATES | Will shut shrine if women climb temple, says head priest

Tension in Kerala as the gates to the hill shrine of Sabrimala were opened for the first time on Wednesday since the Supreme Court lifted the entry ban on women. (Express photo by Vishnu Varma)

READ LIVE UPDATES | Women make their way to shrine amid tight security, over 500 cops deployed

The protests near the Sabarimala base camp at Nilakkal turned violent with the protester and the police throwing stones at each other. Women journalists were asked to leave. (Express photo by Vishnu Varma)

A media vehicle damaged due to stone pelting by protesters near Nilakkal. (Express photo by Vishnu Varma)

Tensions are running high in Kerala as the gates to the hill shrine will be opened for the first time since the Supreme Court lifted the age-old entry ban on women in the 10-50 age group. (Express photo by Vishnu Verma)

As devotees make their way to the shrine, those opposing the judgment are screening vehicles on the way and forcefully stopping women of “menstruating age” at Nilackal and not allowing them to reach the last base camp before the temple. Nilackal, the main entrance of Sabarimala, is 20km from the shrine and a point where pilgrims disembark. (Express photo by Vishnu Verma)

This is despite Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warning of “stern action” against those who prevent devotees from going to Sabarimala. (Express photo by Vishnu Verma)