Four women hailing from Andhra Pradesh were on their way to the Samarimala temple when protesters blocked their path on Sunday and turned them away. At 10 am, two women accompanied by a male devotee were the first to face the wrath of the traditionalists.

The pilgrims were about to enter the main pathway at the foothills of the temple town to begin their trek to the shrine at the hilltop when protesters surrounded them. Sensing trouble, cops formed a security cordon around the two women and took them to the police control room at Pamba.