Kochi: BSNL employee Rehana Fathima, who created a stir by climbing the hill at Sabarimala for offering prayers at the Ayyappa temple, has been transferred. An internal probe has also been ordered against her by BSNL. Further action would be initiated against Rehana based on the inquiry report, it is learnt.
Rehana, who was attached to the Boat Jetty office of BSNL, has been shifted to Ravipuram.
A big protest had been staged by devotees after Rehana set out on the pilgrimage along with Kavitha Jakkal, a journalist from Andhra, on the strength of a Supreme Court order allowing all women to pray at the temple. They had reached up to the Valiya Nadapanthal with the security provided by 180 police personnel. But the two women could not climb the holy steps (Pathinettam Padi) after a large number of people, including priests, blocked them.
The incident created a big furore, leading Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran to issue a statement which said that Sabarimala was not the place for activists to display their strength. He also gave instructions to the police not to take the two women to Sannidhanam.
Subsequently, the police convinced Rehana and Kavitha to return.
IG of police S Sreejith, who led the police team, faced much flak for taking the two women up the hill.
However, in a Facebook post, Rehana welcomed her transfer. She wrote that she had applied for it five years ago and it was thanks to Lord Ayyappa’s blessings that the orders in this regard were issued all of a sudden.
Rehana’s post is as follows:
Swami Saranam
Five years ago, I had submitted a request for a transfer. But the order was issued in no time after I had climbed the Sabarimala hill. All thanks to the blessings of Lord Ayyappa.
Earlier, I had to negotiate heavy traffic every day to reach office. It took 45 minutes to cover the six-km distance. But now I can walk to office in two minutes.
I pray to Lord Ayyappa that only good things happen to the officer who took the initiative to issue my transfer order.
