FALLOUT FROM COURT RULING
Hindu hardliners bar women from holy temple
Sabarimala — Hindu hardliners blocked intersections, threatened drivers, threw stones at buses and ordered a 12-hour strike on Thursday to successfully bar women from one of India’s holiest temples for a second day. The Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in the southern state of Kerala was meant to allow women of all ages — and not just those under 10 and over 50 as before — from Wednesday following an order by India’s highest court in September. But hundreds of traditionalists defied the order, blocking the path and harassing any woman attempting to make it to the hilltop site. Angry young men smashed the car windows of female TV reporters and threatened others. One such reporter was kicked. Local Hindu groups had previously declared a 12-hour shutdown of businesses in the area, telling taxi drivers their vehicles would be attacked if they took anyone towards the temple. Shops, businesses and schools in the area were shut. The situation at the actual temple was festive, meanwhile, w...
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