A top police officer who had drawn flak as well as some praise for the aborted trek of an activist to the Sabarimala temple was found offering tearful prayers at the shrine on Monday morning.

Television footage showed tears streaming down the face of S. Sreejith, the inspector-general of police, at the Lord Ayyappa temple. Devotees are often seen misty-eyed while praying before the idol.

Sreejith had run into a blizzard of criticism for escorting as well as providing heavy security for activist Rehana Fathima when she tried to reach the shrine on Friday.

She wore a helmet and was protected by as many as 180 police personnel but the attempt was abandoned after fierce protests on the way.

Her credentials as a devotee were questioned and the issue became a political football with both the ruling Left and the Opposition BJP accusing each other of colluding with her to foment communal tensions.

But Sreejith also won applause from a section of a people who felt that he handled the situation with remarkable restraint when it looked as if it would spin out of control. He patiently explained to the protesters that while he did not want to hurt their sentiments, it was his duty to facilitate the implementation of the Supreme Court order.

The officer and his team eventually advised Rehana and another woman to return as the head priest sent word that he might be compelled to shut the temple. By then, a group of priests had also seated themselves at the foot of the sacred 18 steps and started to chant. The police team and the women then returned.

The Kerala Muslim Jamaath Council later expelled Rehana from the Muslim community for “hurting the sentiments of lakhs of Hindu devotees”.

On Monday, Malayalam media reported that BSNL, where Rehana works, had transferred her to another office in Kochi. But Rehana claimed in a Facebook post that she had sought the transfer long ago and her new office was close by. She also attributed the shift to Lord Ayyappa’s blessings.