Ayyappa devotees protest denial of Deeksha permission to Hyd cop
A row has erupted after an internal memo issued to the SI denying permission to follow Ayyappa Deeksha practices while on duty became public
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Hyderabad: Denial of permission to a Sub-Inspector of Police in Hyderabad to follow certain Ayyappa Deeksha practices while on duty sparked a protest by devotees here on Thursday.
Protesting against the memo issued to the SI by the South East Zone Police, the devotees and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) staged a protest in front of the office of the Director General of Police (DGP). Tension prevailed in the high-security area as the protesters, with saffron scarves on their black dresses, tried to barge into the premises. Police personnel swung into action to stop the protesters, who were raising slogans against the government and the police. The protestors were bundled into police vehicles and were whisked away.
A similar protest was held at the office of the South East Zone DCP. Holding saffron flags, the protestors demanded that the police revoke the denial of permission to the SI.
A row has erupted after an internal memo issued to the SI denying permission to follow Ayyappa Deeksha practices while on duty became public on Wednesday.
The memo, citing earlier instructions, refused permission to the SI to grow hair and beard, wear black civil dress, or remain barefoot as part of the ritual during the 40-day 'Ayyappa Deeksha'.
S Krishnakanth, who is posted as SI at the Kanchanbagh police station under the Hyderabad commissionerate limits, had sought certain exemptions to undertake the Ayyappa Deeksha.
