Hindu Aikya Vedi secretary K P Sasikala
As Right Wing organisations observe a hartal in Kerala over her detention, Hindu Aikya Vedi secretary K P Sasikala, 56, has been kept in preventive custody at the Ranni police station. Sasikala was arrested at Marakkoottam, en route to the Sannidhanam in Sabarimala, early on Saturday after she refused to heed to the police’s requests to go back.
As the Kerala Police stopped her citing prohibitory orders, Sasikala claimed she was a devotee and should be allowed to proceed. After the arrest at around 1.40 am, she was taken to Pampa in a forest department ambulance and from there to Ranni in a police jeep. There are reports that she is observing a fast inside the police station. Sangh Parivar supporters are protesting outside the station in Ranni.
Right Wing outfits are observing a bandh across Kerala Saturday to protest against her arrest. Hindu Aikyavedi leader Bhargavaram, Sabarimala Achara Samsrakshana Samiti general secretary Prithvipal and BJP ST Morcha state chief P Sudhir have also been taken in custody fearing trouble if they reached the temple.
The BJP has declared its support for the hartal. The party has termed the arrest of the leaders unprovoked. KSRTC services have been disrupted in many parts after protesters attacked some buses. The hartal, called at short notice, has affected normal life across the state.
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