Kerala: Bindu Ammini, who had visited #Sabarimala temple in January, sprayed with chilli powder in front of Kochi c… https://t.co/daR9teu4ii — TOI Kochi (@TOIKochiNews) 1574738883000

KOCHI: Bindu Ammini , one of the two women who had scaled the Sabarimala hill and had darshan at the Lord Ayyappa temple earlier this year, was attacked with chilli spray near the city police commissioner's office on Tuesday morning.Bindu had alighted from a car when a man wearing a saffron dhoti approached her with a can of what seemed to be chilli powder spray. The substance was sprayed on the woman's face even as she tried to resist. The attacker then fled the spot.The accused was later arrested. The accused was identified as Sreenath Padmanabhan (28), a native of Kudiyanmala in Kannur.According to sources, Bindu has been moved to General Hospital in Ernakulam for treatment. Bindu was at the Revenue Tower premises, (from where the commissioner office functions), to see a group of women led by activist Trupti Desai who reached Kochi on Tuesday morning to try and scale the hill.The women, about seven of them, clandestinely reached Kochi on Tuesday morning. They are seeking entry into the temple as there is no stay on the Supreme Court order allowing temple entry for women of all ages. Bindu Ammini, who had darshan under police protection in January this year, is also accompanying Trupti.The women reached the Cochin International Airport by an early-morning flight. However, they haven't made it clear about when they are planning to go to Sabarimala.Sources said that Bindu has written to the government seeking permission to enter the temple."Sabarimala darshan is our right. We would go back only if the government give it in writing that we won't be allowed to enter the temple," Bindu said.Trupti Desai while speaking to TOI said that the group of seven women includes five from Maharashtra, one from Delhi and Bindu."We had booked a taxi to Pampa but were stopped on the way and we are now at special branch office in Ernakulam, waiting for police protection to us to Sabarimala. Today is Constitution Day and government needs to protect our constitutional rights. It is our right to enter Sabarimala temple ," Desai said.