(Image source from: NDTV.com)

Two Kerala women, who made an attempt to enter Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala on Saturday, were forced to return.

The women reached Nilakkal in the early morning and were convinced to return after holding talks with the police. They have been taken to Erumely.

This is the second time the two women, Reshma Nishanth and Shanila Sajeesh, have attempted to visit Sabarimala. The duo's attempts to visit the hill shrine on Wednesday were thwarted by devotees. Reshma had then said she would offer prayers at the temple.

The women had appeared with a group of men, including Shreyas, a member of the Facebook group Navothana Keralam Sabarimalayileku. He alleged that the police could have taken the women to Sabarimala.

He further claimed that more women would attempt to visit the temple on Saturday.

Two Kerala women on January 2 entered the temple, three months after the Supreme Court allowed women of all the age groups to enter the shrine.

Two women - Kanakadurga and Bindu - had entered the hill shrine in December, despite critical threats from right-wing groups. However, following their entry, the head priest decided to close the sanctum sanctorum of the temple to perform the purification ritual, which used to be carried out during the time of the violation of temple customs.

The Kerala government on Friday submitted in the Supreme Court that after the ban was lifted about 51 women in the 10-50 age group had entered the temple.

-Sowmya Sangam