BJP Kerala General Secretary K Surendran, who was taken into preventive custody as he tried to proceed to the Lord Ayappa Temple, was on Sunday produced before a magistrate and remanded in 14-days judicial custody after he was charged with non-bailable offences.
Surendran, who had ‘Irrumudikettu” (holy bundle of offerings for Lord Ayyappa) was taken into custody from Nilackal on Saturday night as he, along with two others, was on his way to the temple at Sabarimala.
Surendran was asked by Superintendent of Police Yatish Chandra not to proceed towards Sabarimala but he did not heed. They were then taken into preventive custody and brought to Chittar Police Station on Saturday night.Early today, they were taken to Pathnamthitta district hospital and then produced before the Pathnamthitta judicial first-class magistrate at his residence.
The magistrate remanded them in 14-days judicial custody. The BJP is observing a “protest” day on Sunday and will be blocking vehicles on highways from 10 am. Kerala had observed a 12-hour hartal against the arrest of Hindu Aikya Vedi president P K Sasikala on Saturday. The Sabarimala Temple had opened for the two-month long pilgrim season on November 16.
-Shikha Sandhir
