KP Sasikala, the Kerala state president of the right-wing outfit Hindu Aikya Vedi was released from police custody on Saturday, November 17. Earlier during the day, her arrest, after she defied police orders to enter the Sabarimala temple, had led to calls from right-wing outfits for a dawn-to-dusk hartal across the state.
#JustIn — Hindu Aikya Vedi leader KP Sasikala is out of police custody. She has been issued a notice under 107 Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC) during this period she cannot get involved in any criminal cases or create issues. | #SabarimalaForAll #RightToPray pic.twitter.com/vEoCrJbcNK
— News18 (@CNNnews18) November 17, 2018
Sasikala was issued a notice under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) under which, “she cannot get involved in any criminal cases or create issues.”
Sasikala was arrested at around 1:30AM on Saturday. Although she was over 50 — deemed to be the upper age-limit for women wanting to visit the shrine — police arrested her in order to prevent her from leading protests at the temple and its vicinity. Sasikala was arrested under Section 151 of the CrPC (Arrest to prevent the commission of cognisable offences). Prior to her arrest, Sasikala was taken into preventive custody in Pamba. After her arrest, she was taken to the Ranni police station.
Also Read: SC Declines to Stay its Verdict Allowing Women of All Ages into Sabarimala Temple
Other Arrests
Along with Sasikala, Prithvipal, the Kerala convenor of Achara Samrakshana Samithi and P Sudhir, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader were also taken into custody. Reportedly, the 6:00AM- to- 6:00PM hartal was called by Hindu Aikya Vedi and Sabarimala Karma Samithi. The BJP leadership in the state also supported the bandh.
Questioning Sasikala’s arrest, Kerala state BJP president PS Sreedharan Pillai said, “Police should answer — who gave them power to arrest the leaders from Sabarimala? The government wants to destroy the traditions of Sabarimala. Why was Sasikala arrested? The BJP will strengthen its protests and support the hartal.”
Also Read: Sabarimala: Hartal Called in Kerala After Hindu Woman Leader’s arrest