The Pathanamthitta district administration on Saturday extended prohibitory orders issued under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) imposed in and around Sabarimala temple areas till the midnight of December 12.
Section 144 prohibits assembly of more than four people in an area. As per the decision of the Pathanamthitta district administration, Sabarimala, Elavungal, Nilakkal, Pamba, and Sannidhanam will be under the purview of the police control for four more days.
Earlier, the police had submitted a report to the district collector, seeking to extend the prohibitory orders until January 14. The police on Saturday arrested BJP leaders including its state unit vice-president N Shivarajan for breaching prohibitory orders at Nilakkal.
Around 69 people were arrested in November after they allegedly violated Section 144 imposed in the vicinity of the temple.
A string of protests have been witnessed in the state after the Supreme Court's verdict allowing women of all age groups to enter the Lord Ayappa shrine. Till today, no women in the 10-50 age group has succeeded in offering prayers at the shrine as various people have been protesting against the court's decision.
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