Even as protests surged across Kerala on 3 January, Thursday, following the entry of two women into the Sabarimala temple, a police officer stationed at the Kaliyakkavilai town on the state border has won hearts with his courage.
How? Well, Mohana Aiyer, an SI from the Kaliyakkavilai police station managed to stop a mob from vandalising Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses that were plying through the national highway in the town.
Speaking to The Quint, Aiyer said:
“The incident happened soon after two women entered the Sabarimala temple. A mob led by the BJP gathered on the national highway, and three persons from the crowd threatened to vandalise the KSRTC buses. I caught hold of the men and warned them.”
In a video that has now gone viral, Aiyer can be heard threatening the group in a very filmy manner, his tongue curled in typical Kollywoood-style.
He can be heard yelling, "Dhairiyam irundha vandiya thodura. Vazhakai illama panniruven." (Translated: If you have the courage, touch the bus. I'll make sure you don't have a life.)
Hearing of the incident, KSRTC Managing Director Tomin J Thachankary called Aiyer to thank him, promising to give him a token amount of Rs 1,000 and a commendation certificate.
What pushed Aiyer to take such a strong stance against the mob, which was clearly larger than the force present with him?
“If KSRTC buses had been vandalised within Tamil Nadu border, it would escalate into a state issue. There would have been more damage from both sides then, I just wanted to stop anything untoward from happening.”
Meanwhile, the police has arrested 1,369 people and has taken 717 into preventive custody for hartal-related violence over the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.
Two women – Bindu (42) from Koilandy and Kanakadurga (44) from Angadipuram in Malappuram district – had entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala temple on Wednesday, 2 January, triggering protests across the state.
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