Updated: December 10, 2018 12:46 PM IST 
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly on Monday was adjourned for the day as the members of the Opposition protested and demanded the withdrawal of Section 144 from Sabarimala, stated news agency ANI. Section 144 prohibits the assembly of more than 4 people in and around the areas of Sabarimala temple till the midnight of December 12.
The prohibitory orders issued under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was extended by the Pathanamthitta district administration on Saturday. Therefore areas including Sabarimala, Elavungal, Nilakkal, Pamba, and Sannidhanam will be under the purview of the police control for four more days.
The police had earlier submitted a report to the district collector, seeking an extension of the prohibitory orders until January 14. On Saturday BJP leaders including the state unit vice-president N Shivarajan were arrested for breaching the prohibitory orders at Nilakkal.
In the month of November alone, around 69 people were arrested for allegedly breaching the Section 144 imposed in the vicinity of Sabarimala. On December 7, the Congress-led opposition UDF’s MLAs disrupted the proceedings by carrying black banners in the Kerala Assembly, which lead to the early adjournment of the House. The session lasted only for 18 minutes.
Reports by Onmanorama stated that three UDF leaders took part in a hunger strike demanding that section 144 was lifted from the area. Having boycotted several of the Legislative Assembly sessions of the Kerala government, the UDF launched a “satyagraha” outside the Assembly hall. On 27 November, they had announced to further their protests within and outside the Assembly until section 144 was rolled back.
Sabarimala had witnessed a series of violent protests from a section of devotees ever since the state government decided to implement the Supreme Court’s September 28 verdict, which granted permission to women of all age groups to enter the shrine.
(With Agency inputs)
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