Sabarimala protests live updates: BJP leader taken into preventive custody

A 45-year-old Mary Sweety, a Gulf returnee, who tried to go to Sabarimala second time on Saturday, was blocked at Chengannur Railway station here by protestors. Alappuzha district police chief S Surendran said that Mary, hailing from Kazhakootam, reached Chengannur railway station at 6.30pm and tried to go to Pamba in a KSRTC passenger bus parked on the railway station premises.

BJP general secretary K Surendran was allegedly taken into preventive custody on Saturday night and removed by police from Nilackal, the base camp, as he tried to leave for the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.

BJP general secretary K Surendran stopped by the police at Nilackal. He was arrested after he refused to go back. Police said that Surendran was arrested due to law and order issues.

KP Sasikala on the way to Sabarimala says she will trek up to the temple tonight itself.

"A woman pilgrim from Andhra Pradesh died at Appachimedu enroute to Sannidhanam. The deceased has been identified as Gudla Chandrakantam (50)," police said.

Kerala: Four injured in blaze caused by gas leak in a temple in Kuttippuram. The injured have been admitted to Jubilee Mission Hospital, Thrissur.

The dawn to dusk hartal declared by the Hindu Aikya Vedi, following the preventive detention of their leader K P Sasikala from Marakkoottam on her way to Sabarimala, turned violet at different places in the district.

Hindu Aikya Vedi leader KP Sasikala who was under preventive detention has been granted bail by the sub-divisional magistrate court in Tiruvalla on Saturday. Soon after getting released, the 56-year-old leader expressed her desire to return to Sabarimala, provided her health allows.

Sabarimala row: Julius Nikhithas, Son of CPM district secretary P Mohanan and his wife Sanio Manomi, a scribe, attacked by hartal supporters in Kerala's Kuttippuram.

KP Sasikala, who is in preventive detention, is being taken to the magistrate court in Tiruvalla for bail. She had expressed her desire to return to Sabarimala after getting bail. The protesters who were on a strike outside Ranni police station called off their protest as Sasikala was taken to court.

Hartal supporters attacked an Innova car at Naripparambu near Kuttippuram. Car's wind screen smashed.

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran slammed the BJP Sangh parivar organisations for observing harthal on the the first day of Malayalam month Vrichikam, the day considered very auspicious by Hindu believers in Kerala

The minister said the BJP and Sangh parivar had made a harthal call on Thulam ( malayalam month), causing hardships to devotees, especially those visiting Sabarimala temple

Hartal near total in Malappuram. Hartal supporters staged blockade on NH66 at Valanchery

A KSRTC driver and an autorikshaw driver were attacked by hartal supporters in Tirur

Kerala- KSRTC managing director Tomin Thachankary has directed all Sabarimala special service buses to operate with picture of Sastha. "Vehicles carrying pictures of Sastha are not facing issues," he said.

Drones being used for security surveillance as devotees throng to Pampa base came

There is not much impact of the hartal in Kochi. Shops and petrol pumps are open here

Harthal near total in Kannur. Private vehicles are plying but harthal supporters are blocking the vehicles in some places