Priests at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala conducted a “cleansing ritual” after learning that policemen who accompanied four transgender persons on Tuesday had worn boots and carried riot gear at the shrine where no footwear is allowed.

The incident came to light after some devotees took pictures of at least five policemen in full gear, including their black boots, just 20 metres from the shrine of the presiding deity, Lord Ayyappan.

Riot police had accompanied the transgender pilgrims who were clad in black saris, like women pilgrims do. The heavy security had been attributed to the possibility of some protesters mistaking these pilgrims for young women and creating law and order problems.

The protesters have not allowed any young woman to enter the Sabarimala temple since the Supreme Court on September 28 lifted the ban on the entry of women of childbearing age to the shrine.

The police department has begun an inquiry into why the riot cops accompanying the transgender devotees did not remove their boots and drop their gear before entering the temple. The state police had recently issued a circular to those in charge of security at the temple to ensure that no one wears shoes or riot gear once inside the temple premises.

As part of the cleansing ritual the temple was washed clean on Wednesday afternoon, after which the priests sprinkled “holy water”.

Sudhish Kumar, executive officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board, the government’s temple-governing body, told reporters that the cleansing was done to avoid any further issues.

“We approached the tantri (chief priest) when it came to light that policemen had worn boots. He then suggested the cleansing ritual as a remedy,” said Kumar.

He said the ritual was a must after any such desecration of the temple premises.

P.G. Sasikumara Varma, president of the Pandalam Palace Committee, the erstwhile royal family that once controlled the temple, condemned the police’s act and sought a clarification from the government.

“We don’t know if it was a deliberate act of desecration. But entering the temple wearing boots is a clear violation of the traditions and it needs to be investigated,” Varma told The Telegraph.

“We have also informed the panel appointed by the high court,” he said, referring to the three-member supervisory committee appointed by Kerala High Court.

The police on Wednesday tightened security along the route to the temple based on intelligence reports of the Sangh parivar mounting protests over the shoe-wearing policemen.