Over 300 held over Sabarimala unrest

Two from Thripunithura accused of conspiring to provoke riot

Over 300 people have been arrested in the district in connection with various protests held against the apex court verdict permitting the entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala temple. While 226 people, mostly active RSS, BJP, Antharashrta Hindu Parishad workers or supporters, were arrested from within various police stations limits in the city, another 75 were arrested from within the rural limits. At least 13 cases were registered in the district in connection with various protests.

Those accused of creating tension through protests and vehicle blockades, taking out prayer processions to police stations and random acts of violence during the hartal on October 18 were also among the arrested. This include four persons accused of blocking the pilot vehicle of the Vigilance Commissioner at Cheriapilly in Paravur on the hartal day.

Two held

Two persons were arrested from within the Thripunithura police station limits on Thursday as part of the Statewide crackdown by the police on activists accused of creating tension at Nilakkal recently in connection with the protest against the implementation of the apex court verdict.

The arrested were identified as P. Govind, 33, and Harikumar, both residents of Thripunithura. “They were taken into custody from their houses in Thripunithura town. While Govind is a lawyer, Harikumar is an ambulance driver. They were handed over to Pathanamthitta police,” said K.R. Biju, Sub Inspector, Hill Palace Police Station.

The arrested, reportedly active workers of the RSS and the BJP, are accused of conspiring to provoke a riot at Sabarimala in the guise of staging protest against the apex court verdict. Their pictures were among the images of the accused brought out by the police.

According to the police, they had camped in Nilakkal days before the outbreak of violence in connection with the implementation of the apex court order. They were allegedly part of the mob that blocked vehicles at Nilakkal and forced the exit of women and the one which attacked the police later.