Sabarimala protest HIGHLIGHTS | BJP's K Surendran taken in preventive custody, party to lead protest march at Secretariat on Sunday

TV reports say that Surendran was carrying the "Irrumudikettu" (a bundle containing offerings) when the police told him not to proceed citing law and order issues.

Amid tight security, thousands of pilgrims offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa shrine early Saturday, the first day of Malayalam month 'Vrischikom,' even as a BJP leader was taken into preventive custody from Nilackal, the base camp. The 62-day-long Mandala Pooja-Magaravilaku annual pilgrimage began this morning.

Kerala BJP's general secretary K Surendran and his party workers were blocked at Nilakkal base camp and asked to return. TV reports say that Surendran was carrying the 'Irrumudikettu' (a bundle containing offerings) when the police told him not to proceed citing law and order issues.

The state came to a standstill on Saturday after an unexpected hartal called by right-wing Hindu outfits in protest against the arrest of a VHP leader KP Sasikala at Sabarimala.

Sasikala, the state president of Hindu Aikya Vedi, was let off this evening with a warning. She will be allowed to pay a darshan after getting bail from court, the police said. Along with her, BJP leader P Sudhir was also arrested.

The Sabarimala shrine opened for the third time on Friday since the Supreme Court order allowing women between the ages of 10 and 50 into the temple.

CPIM leader's son, journalist daughter-in-law attacked during hartal against detention of Sangh leader

A CPI(M) leader's son and his journalist daughter-in law were attacked allegedly by protesters during the hartal today. Julius Nikithas and wife Saniyo Manomi, working with a leading Malayalam news channel, were attacked at Kuttiady as they were going to a hospital in a car to visit a patient. READ HERE

Ernakulam police starts bus service for commuters stuck in city

The service launched by city police have become a relief for commuters who are stranded at various locations in the city following the hartal. A scene from Ernakulam South. (Photo | EPS/ Albin Mathew)

Hartal affects commuters in Kerala

A commuter who got stranded at Ernakulam KSRTC bus stand due to the hartal tries to book an online taxi (Photo | EPS/Albin Mathew)

Devaswom Minister meets media

BJP challenging devotees: Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran

Pilgrims are stuck in different parts of Pathanamthitta due to the violent protests. The right-wing protestors are camping in Sabarimala to create trouble, the minister told media.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala calls VHP hartal 'an unpardonable mistake'

The Congressman accused BJP of supporting the right-wing outfits in treating the people of Kerala like hostages.

Protests mount outside Ranni police station as Sasikala undergoes medical check-up

The VHP leader refused bail and said her hunger strike will go on as supporters in large number reach the police station in Pathanamthitta, reported Malayala Manorama.

Sasikala's arrest sheer policeraj: BJP chief

BJP state president Sreedharan Pillai while speaking to Express said, "Sasikala Teacher was going to Sabarimala sannidhanam with Irumudikettu and was arrested by police without any provocation. She reached Marakoottam by 7.30 and was detained. She was taken into police custody in the midnight by 1.30 and this is nothing but policeraj under the tyrannical rule of Pinarayi Vijayan. BJP strongly supports the hartal called by the VHP and Hindu Aikya Vedi against the arrest."

Centre asked to strengthen security at Sabarimala: CPI

CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said the security at the hill shrine was further tightened as per the central government's demand. The left government has no intention of turning Sabarimala into a war zone, he told media.

Pilgrims reach Sabarimala

Kerala: Lord Ayyappa devotees begin the trek from Pampa to #SabarimalaTemple. The temple opened yesterday for 62-day long Mandala Pooja-Magaravilaku annual pilgrimage season. pic.twitter.com/CKW3KX5f30

— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2018

Devaswom Minister to meet media soon

Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran will meet media shortly at PR Chamber, Thiruvananthapuram.

Sasikala refuses bail

Sasikala refused police offer to grant bail and asked them to remand her in custody instead.

#Sabarimala Nlakkal Law and Order SP Yatish Chandra operating surveillance drone for monitoring movement of pilgrims and vehicles at Nilakkal on Saturday morning @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/Iy10tBIxgD

— ajay kanth (@ajaykanth7) November 17, 2018

DGP meets Chief Minister

Kerala police chief Loknath Behera met CM Pinarayi Vijayan at his office to discuss the situation at Sannidhanam.

Examinations rescheduled

The examinations scheduled on Saturday have been postponed to Monday following the hartal

Rahul Easwar leaves Nilakkal

Rahul Easwar leaves Nilakkal following police warning him of arrest if he continues to stay at the base camp, reports Mathrubhum The activist said he will return to Pampa with more protestors if Dewaswom Board is not given more time to implement the SC order.The Board on Friday decided to go to SC seeking more time, took a U-turn on Saturday and confirmed that it will not request the apex court for the same.

KSRTC stops services

Sporadic violence reported at various parts of the state and activists pelted stones at KSRTC buses. KSRTC services stopped following the violence.

Work on rape, sexual harassment rather than hurrying to to enter Sabrimala: Taslima Nasreen tells activists

I do not understand why women activists are so eager to enter Sabarimala. Better they should enter the villages where women suffer from domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse,hate, where girls have no access to education, heath-care,and no freedom to take a job or get equal pay.

— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) November 16, 2018

#Sabarimala Roads empty and shops remained closed on Saturday morning at Vadasserikkara, a major town about 55 kms away from Sabarimala, following state wide hartal called by VHP to protest arrest of its leader Sasikala at Sabarimala @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/WzqaFLKZ0J

— ajay kanth (@ajaykanth7) November 17, 2018

Mary Sweety makes another failed attempt to enter shrine

Mary Sweety, a 46-year-old woman, who had made a vain bid to trek to the shrine when it was opened last month, tried her luck again today, but beat a hasty retreat after protesters blocked the bus she was travelling in at Chengannur, about 30 km from Pampa, late Saturday. She has been sent back to Thiruvananthapuram, police sources said.

TV reports state that the BJP has taken out a march to the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram.

BJP begins protest at police station where Surendran is detained

BJP activists are staging a protest in front of the Chittar police station in Pathanamthitta district where Surendran has been detained.

BJP reacts to police action against K Surendran

BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai said the police action against Surendran has created an "extremely dangerous" situation. BJP workers will observe a "protest day" in the state tomorrow and block traffic on the highways, he said.

According to Manorama news, the BJP is planning to take out a Secretariat march to protest police action against Surendran and other party leaders.

BJP leader K Surendran and BJP Thrissur district president A Nagesh have been taken into police custody at Nilakkal.

Sasikala says she will visit Sabarimala shrine today

Devotees planning Neyyabhishekam during night allowed to stay at Sannidhanam

The Kerala police have imposed new regulations at Sannidhanam. Those devotees performing neyyabhishekam ritual on Saturday night can now camp there, say police.

Dawn-to-dusk hartal affects Sabarimala pilgrims

Two Sabarimala devotees die in road accident in Idukki

In a tragic incident, two Sabarimala devotees from Tamil Nadu died when the vehicle in which they were travelling met with an accident at Idukki district, reported Samakalika Malayalam website.

Hartal adds to passengers' woes

Hartal: Saffron organisations conduct massive protests all over Kerala

Kerala witnessed massive protests by saffron organisations over Sabarimala issue on Saturday.

Sabarimala Karma Samithi activists trying to close a clinic at Thiruvananthapuram.

Hartal supporters trying to close down the beauty saloon of noted hair stylist Ambika Pillai at Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.

Hartal: Cops beef up security all over state

Police personnnel are deployed in large numbers all over the state in the wake of untoward incidents being reported from various parts during the dawn-to-dusk hartal.

Hartal affects normal life in Kerala

Petrol pumps witness heavy rush in Kerala due to hartal

Motorists had to face many hassles on Saturday due to the state-wide hartal. Long queues were seen all over the state in front of petrol pumps.

Hartal: Life comes to standstill in Kerala on Saturday

50-year-old woman devotee from Andhra dies of heart attack at Sabarimala

Chandrakantham, a 50-year woman devotee from Visakhapatnam died at Appachimedu due to heart attack on Saturday while climbing the Sabarimala hills, according to Samakalika Malayalam.

Sasikala will be allowed into temple post bail: Police

Hindu Aikya Vedi state president K P Sasikala will be allowed to pay a darshan of Lord Ayyyappa at Sabarimala after getting bail from court, said the police, according to Manoramaonline.com. Police will produce Sasikala before the Tiruvalla RDO for hearing of bail application, added the website. Following the statement of police, Hindu Aikya Vedi activists stopped their protest infront of Ranni Police station and dispersed.

Sabarimala Karma Samithi to launch indefinite hartal till Sasikala allowed darshan

The Sabarimala Karma Samithi will launch an indefinite hartal from Sunday onwards if the police do not release Hindu Aikya Vedi state president K P Sasikala and allow her to have darshan at Sabarimala. Read full story here

Thousands of pilgrims reach Sannidhanam amid right-wing hartal

(Photo | EPS/Albin Mathew)

Advocate Chandra Uday Singh to represent TDB

The TDB's move comes a day after the LDF government, at an all-party meeting, took a firm stand that it was bound to implement the top court order and rejected suggestions by opposition parties that it seek time from the court.

Travancore Devaswom Board to move SC on Monday

The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the Sabarimala shrine, would move the Supreme Court on Monday seeking more time to implement its order allowing women of menstrual age to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple.

WATCH | Kerala police deploys drone to track pilgrim movement at Nilakkal

KSRTC resumes service with police protection

KSRTC, which was earlier forced to stop their services due to violent protests at different parts of Kerala, resumed special trips to Sabarimala with police priotection.

Drop in number of pilgrims at Erumely

There has been a considerable fall in the number of pilgrims as many hotels remain shut due to the hartal, media reports state. (Photo | EPS/Albin Mathew)