Attack on Kerala ashram run by man who supported women’s entry into Sabarimala temple

The ashram Swami Sandeepananda Giri was set on fire early on Thursday morning. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the attack.

The ashram of a man who supported the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages to Sabarimala temple was attacked early Saturday, police said.

The ashram was attacked by unidentified assailants early on Saturday morning in Thiruvananthapuram. (ANI/Twitter)

The ashram head, who goes by the name Swami Sandeepananda Giri, had supported the government’s intention to uphold the top court’s order.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan who visited the ashram in the morning, condemned the attack.

“We won’t allow communal forces to take law into their hands,” Vijayan said after visiting the ashram.

Two cars and one scooter of the ashram were set on fire by the attackers.

Sandeepananda Giri said he suspected that the RSS was behind the attack.

Kerala’s Director general of Police, Loknath Behra said a special investigation team under Thiruvananthapuram police commissioner will probe attack on ashram.

The BJP rubbished claims that the sangh parivar was behind the attack. Blaming the Left , BJP leader P K Krishnadas said, “The CPI(M) stage managed the attack to distract attention from Sabarimala issue.”