The BJP called for a 12 -hour strike in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala today after the body of a 60-year-old Ayyappa devotee was found. The party alleged that Sivadasan was killed during police action against the "devotees" who were protesting in Sabarimala last month against the Supreme Court order that allowed women of all ages to offer prayers at the hill shrine. Kerala police refuted the charge and said this is part of "several attempts to create rumours and false propaganda" linking the death of Sivadasan to the police response "taken to implement the Supreme Court order in Sabarimala."