Women activists manhandled at Trimbakeshwar temple; 200 booked

A batch of women activists were allegedly manhandled by a group of locals while they were trying to enter into the sanctum sanctorum of the famous Trimbakeshwar temple on Wednesday, following which the police booked 200 persons.

Former president of Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council Anagha Phadke is also among those booked, police said. Talking to reporters ,Vanita Gutte, president of Pune-based 'Swarajya Sanghatana' said, "I was standing along with our women activists in the queue since 5 am to gain entry into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. We also followed the dress code -- wearing wet cotton clothes -- for the purpose."

"The entry into the sanctum sanctorum is restricted between 6 am and 7 am, the time that has been fixed by the temple trust. However, some local priests and women deliberately stood in the queue before us and obstructed us from entering the sanctum. They also manhandled us," Gutte added.

Thereafter, the activists lodged a complaint with Trimbakeshwar police against the priests and women. "Around 200 persons, including the former municipal president of Trimbakeshwar, have been booked under the Indian Penal Code sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 341 (wrongful restraint), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention)," Inspector of Trimbakeshwar police station H P kolhe said.

The police will go through the CCTV footage and will take action in this regard, he said.

The Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust recently decided to allow women into the famous Lord Shiva temple's 'garbha griha' (sanctum sanctorum) for an hour everyday, but with a rider that they must wear wet cotton or silk clothes while offering prayers in the core area.

On April 14, based on a complaint by Gutte that they were being obstructed from entering the temple, the police had registered offences against nearly 250 people, including members of the temple trust, some local priests, and temple workers, under relevant sections.