The row erupted over flaws in the actual age of some of the 51 women, whom the counsel had referred to in the list as "banned" -- on account of they being of menstruating age group of 10 to 50 years -- who prayed at the temple this season.

Reshma Nishant and Shaneela Sajesh from Kannur had attempted to offer prayers at the temple on January 16 as well, but had to abandon their plans due to protests from devotees who spotted them.

The plea sought directions to all authorities to allow women of all age groups to enter the temple without any hindrance and to ensure security and safe passage.

Hitting out at the CPI-M-led LDF and the opposition spearheaded by the UDF in the state, Modi said both the fronts were two sides of the same coin and accused them of neglecting people of the state.

Kanaka Durga, one of the two women who made history by becoming the first in centuries to enter the Sabarimala hill temple in Kerala, was attacked by relatives on her return home on Monday.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier argued that all women should be allowed to enter the Sabarimala temple.

The chief minister's office and the police, however, refused to confirm the woman's claim that she visited the shrine on Tuesday.

A road accident killed ten Sabarimala pilgrims from Telangana. The incident took place near Thirumayam town in Pudukottai district of central Tamil Nadu on Sunday after their vehicle collided head-on with a lorry.

"Will you touch the bus? Come, touch it. If you are a man, come and touch it!,” Aiyer can be heard saying in the video.

Haq was asked about the UN's position on the Sabarimala situation in the wake of the widespread violence in Kerala over the entry of women into the hill-top shrine.

'This an act of cowardice,' Nair said on the entry into the Lord Ayyappa shrine two days ago by two women in their 40s, and termed it as 'government-sponsored.'

Bombs were also hurled at CPI(M) leader and former Kannur district secretary of CPI(M) P Sasi's house at Thalassery and a CPI(M) activist Vishak attacked at Iritty, a place in Kannur district.

Amid all the unrest and chaos in Kerala, a powerful photograph of a woman journalist covering the violent protests in Kerala over Sabarimala is going viral.

Rasing the Sabarimala issue in Lok Sabha, Congress MP KK Venugopal on Friday voiced concern over the tense situation in Kerala.

The incident came a day after, two women of menstruating age, Bindu and Kanakadurga, entered the Lord Ayyappa temple to offer prayers.

Dismissing the allegations that they have political affiliations, Bindu said those who oppose the entry of women into Sabarimala have always labelled women as 'Maoists' who attempted to trek the hills.

"The 'tantri' should have quit, if he had any objection to the apex court order as he was also a party to the case," he said.

The BJP is supporting the shutdown while the Congress-led UDF is observing a "black day" on Thursday.

The first phase of the 41-day long annual pilgrim season at the Lord Ayyappa temple would culminate on December 27 with the puja.

Women, in the age group of 10-50 years, are traditionally barred from entering the Sabarimala temple. But the Supreme Court, through its September 28 landmark verdict, lifted the curb and permitted women of all age groups to offer prayers at the temple.