Sabarimala live updates: BJP leader headed to temple detained at Nilakkal base camp; Precautionary step, says Kerala govt

Ayyappa devotees on Saturday complained that the police restriction on Sabarimala temple is making their pilgrimage difficult, after the shrine opened amid heavy police restrictions.No one was allowed to stay at the temple top following a heavy rush after the shrine gates opened at 5 am today.On Saturday, tension gripped Kerala after fringe outfits started a campaign against the detention of Hindu Aikya Vedi state president, KP Sasikala, saying she was detained while carrying ‘irumudi kettu’. Meanwhile, the police said she was held in preventive custody for flouting sec 144 of IPC.The Sabarimala Karma Samiti, an umbrella organisation of outfits, called for a dawn to dusk hartal in Kerala in protest against arrest of Sasikala who was on the pilgrimage to Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.

19:16pm IST

Drones being used for surveillance as devotees throng Pamba base camp (ANI)

Thiruvananthapuram woman asked to return after second attempt to hilltop

Mary Sweety, a woman hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, was asked to go back after protestors prevented her in Chenganur railway station. This is her second attempt to hilltop, in October protestors have foiled her maiden attempt. She is 45, a gulf returnee. Last her house was attacked

19:08pm IST

BJP leader headed to Sabarimala detained at Nilakkal base camp

BJP state general secretary K Surendran detained in Nilakkal base camp when he tried to proceed to hilltop.

12:52 pm IST

Drones being used for surveillance as devotees throng Pamba base camp

Drones are being used for security surveillance as devotees throng Pamba base camp to trek to Sabarimala temple. The temple opened on Friday for 62-day long Mandala Pooja-Magaravilaku annual pilgrimage season.

11:40 am IST

Hindu woman leader observes fast to protest detention

Sabarimala live updates: Protesting detention, Hindu woman leader KP Sasikala is observing fast inside Ranni police station.

11:38 am IST

Hindu woman

10:28 am IST

Protesters turn violent, seek immediate release of Hindu woman leader

Protestors turn violent in Ranni.block police station seeking immediate release of Hindu woman leader KP Sasikala.

10:04 am IST

Arrest of Hindu woman leader illegal, undemocratic: BJP Kerala president

The arrest of KP Sasikala illegal and undemocratic, said BJP Kerala president PS Sreedharan Pillai, adding, Sabarimala stir will be taken to the neighbouring states as well.

9:39 am IST

Shutdown cripples normal life in Kerala

The shutdown call by Sabarimala Karma Samiti has crippled normal life in state even as angry protesters defy prohibitory orders at many places in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala.

9:30 am IST

Protesters gherao police station where Hindu woman leader is detained

Protesters have gheraoed Ranni police station where Hindu woman leader KP Sasikala is detained. Meanwhile, the police is saying that she will be produced in the court later.

9:12 am IST

Devaswom board upset with police restriction

Devaswom board is said to be upset with the police restrictions and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar will be meeting police chief Loknath Behra today.

8:45 am IST

It’s undeclared curfew: BJP leader K Sudhakaran

“It is undeclared curfew, “ said BJP leader K Sudhakaran after devotees complained police restrictions made their pilgrimage difficult.