Police detained 68 people from the Sabarimala temple complex in the early hours of Monday for holding protests, prompting further protests across the state.
The sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Ayyappa temple opened on Monday morning with a few devotees turning up early.
Police sources told PTI that 68 people were taken into preventive custody from the temple complex and brought to the Manniyar camp early on Monday morning. Their details are being verified and their arrests have not been recorded yet.
Describing the arrests as 'cruel', BJP state unit president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai said the party wants a judicial probe.
The pilgrims were protesting at the 'sannidhanam' against lack of facilities at the temple complex and stringent restrictions imposed by the police.
Devotees chanting 'nama japam' had gathered on the covered pathway to the temple and had refused to disperse after the shrine closed at 11pm.
Since prohibitory orders had been imposed, the police told them they should leave. Police sources said they had information the protesters might create trouble at the 'sannidhanam' and had to take precautionary measures accordingly.
Union minister K.J. Alphons slammed the Kerala government for turning the shrine into a 'war zone'. Alphons arrived at Nilackal, the base camp, on Monday morning. 'The state government has turned the temple complex into a war zone. The devotees are not militants, they are pilgrims,' he told reporters.
'What was the need to declare Section 144 at Sabarimala?' he asked.
The minister said there was lack of basic facilities at the temple complex despite the Centre providing Rs 100 crore for the purpose, he said.
The minister's visit came hours after hundred-odd devotees held protests while chanting 'nama japam' (chanting in the name of Lord Ayyappa) late on Sunday night. It continued into Monday morning, when 68 protesters were detained.
The incident led to a string of protests across the state, including in front of the official residence of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram. BJP leaders led by Shobha Surendran are holding a 'nama japam' protest in front of the Manniyar police camp, where those taken into custody have been brought.
Hindu Aikya Vedi president K.P. Sasikala was stopped on her way to the shrine with her family on Monday morning. She was headed there for the 'chorunnu ceremony' (rice feeding) of her grandsons. Police flagged down the bus she was travelling in superintendent of police Yatish Chandra at Nilackal served her a notice asking her not to remain at the 'sannidhanam' beyond six hours.
Chandra later told reporters that Sasikala had promised to return and assured the police that she was not going to the temple to create trouble.
'Our aim is not to trouble anyone. We want devotees not to stay back at the sannidhanam, but come back. This will enable devotees to worship peacefully,' the officer said.
Sasikala had been taken into preventive custody from near the temple premises two days ago for flouting police regulations and had been released after being produced before the magistrate.
