Sabarimala: Rehana Fathima's house ransacked in Kochi

The house of Rehana Fathima, one of two women who tried to enter the Sanctum Sanctorum (Sannidhanam) in Sabarimala on Friday, was ransacked by miscreants in Kochi.

The attack took place soon after Fathima's husband Manoj Sreedhar posted on Facebook about her attempt to enter the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

Their home is inside BSNL quarters at Panamppilly Nagar in Ernakulam. Fathima is an officer working for the government-owned telecom company in the Ernakulam business area. BSNL on its part, issued a statement, distancing itself from Fathima's activism.

According to a witness, two people in helmets attacked the house at around 8 a.m. The police have launched an investigation. At the same time, the police also blocked a march by BJP workers towards Fathima's house.

Fathima and Kavita, a journalist from Hyderabad, decided to withdraw after their attempt to enter the shrine was met with fierce opposition from devotees and priests in front of the 18 steps of the temple. Police convinced them to abort their attempt in order to maintain the law and order situation in and around the shrine.

Fathima is a well-known activist in Kerala. She has taken part in various protests, which included revealing her breast in response to a professor's statement comparing students breasts to watermelons. She shot to fame after her participation in the 'Kiss of Love' protest in Kochi four years back. She has also acted in a few movies.

On Sept. 30, she posted for a photo in a black dress and announced her intention to go to Sabarimala. The photo received severe backlash from a number of people online.

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