Sabarimala: Right Wing activist Rahul Easwar arrested in Palakkad for flouting bail conditions

The Kerala Police arrested Ayyappa Dharma Sena president Rahul Easwar from a Government rest house in Palakkad on Monday, December 17. A court had revoked his bail in the case relating to the protests in Sabarimala on Saturday. The police was directed to arrest him after he flouted a bail regulation.

The activist was to attend a Hindu Mahasabha event on Monday in Palakkad.

Rahul Easwar had been granted bail in a case relating to the violent protest at the Sabarimala temple when it had first opened after the Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of all ages to enter.

The conditions of the bail imposed by the court was that he had to report to the Pathanamthitta police station every week on Saturday. But he failed to do so on December 8 and a court at Ranni promptly directed the police to arrest him.

Rahul Easwar started the Ayyappa Dharma Sena in a bid to protect the Sabarimala temple from the court order implemented by the Supreme Court. Several members of the groups have been booked on charges of leading the assault against women journalists at Sabarimala and Nilackal.

Sabarimala and nearby areas had witnessed unprecedented protests after the right-wing outfits protested the LDF government's decision to implement the Supreme Court order.

Hindu groups and other political parties have been protesting ever since the apex court in September struck down an earlier practice of banning entry of girls and and women aged 10-50.

On November 13, the top court also refused to stay its September verdict, three days before the temple opened for the ongoing two-month long season.