Days after coming out in support of the Supreme Court verdict on the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, Swami Sandeepananda Giri’s Salagramam ashram at Kundamonkadavu was attacked early on Saturday, police said.

The attack took place around 2am and two cars and a scooter were burnt, they said, adding that the attackers also left a wreath at the ashram.

Giri had welcomed the apex court order permitting women in the 10-50 age group to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who visited the ashram, told reporters that stringent action would be taken against the accused, whoever they may be.

Their aim was not to destroy the ashram, but swamiji, he said.

Reacting to the attack, Giri blamed the attack on BJP state president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, Thazhamon Madom, the family of traditional head priests of the Sabarimnala temple, and the Pandalam royal family, also associated with the shrine.

DGP Loknath Behara said strong action would be taken to bring the accused to book. “We will not tolerate such incidents in the state,” he said.

However, the BJP district leadership has denied any role in the attack and demanded an “unbiased” probe into the incident.