Activist Rehana Fathima, who tried to enter Sabarimala Temple, arrested

Rehana Fathima, reporter Kavitha Jakkal and a woman devotee Mary Sweety tried to enter the Sabarimala temple after it was opened for all women in the age group of 10-50 as directed by the Supreme Court. All the three were accorded heavy police protection. However, they had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum due to massive protests by Ayyappa devotees.

Indian journalist Kavitha Jakkal (L) and activist Rehana Fatima are pictured in protective gear in a building outside of the Lord Ayyappa temple complex at Sabarimala in India's southern Kerala state on October 19, 2018, as they were denied entry to the temple grounds by Hindu hardliners. - Religious traditionalists in southern India on October 19 forced two women to abandon an attempt to reach a revered hilltop shrine which has so far stopped female worshippers from entering despite a court order. (Photo by - / AFP)

Kochi: Activist Rehana Fathima, who shot to fame for making a daring attempt to enter the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala when it opened for monthly puja last month, was arrested today for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through her Facebook posts. The 32-year-old was arrested from her office in Palarivattom in Kochi. The activist, a BSNL employee, was booked by police in Pathanamthitta on a complaint by Radhakrishna Menon, alleging that some of her Facebook posts hurt religious sentiments. She was booked under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code – deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. She was later taken to Pathanamathitta after her arrest, a police official was quoted by news agency PTI. She was later taken to Pathanamathitta after her arrest, police said. Rehana Fathima, reporter Kavitha Jakkal and a woman devotee Mary Sweety tried to enter the Sabarimala temple after it was opened for all women in the age group of 10-50 as directed by the Supreme Court. All the three were accorded heavy police protection. However, they had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum due to massive protests by Ayyappa devotees. In a historic verdict on September 28, the Supreme Court lifted the centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the revered hill-temple. Since then the BJP has been in up in arms against the CPIM-ruled Kerala government of trying to disrespect people’s sentiments.