Shutdown Call After Right-Wing Leader's Arrest Near Sabarimala | Read

Amid tight security and a shutdown call by a right-wing group following the arrest of its Kerala chief, thousands of devotees trekked to Sabarimala and offered prayers to Lord Ayyappa. The hill-top shrine opened for the third time on Friday since the Supreme Court order for 62-day-long Mandala Pooja-Magaravilaku annual pilgrimage. Lakhs of devotees are expected to throng the shrine during this period. Over 500 women between the ages of 10 and 50 years have already registered, but no woman of menstrual age attempted the trek today. KP Sasikala, the state president of Hindu Aikya Vedi, was arrested past midnight for trying to create law and order problems, police said. "You break law, you will be booked," tweeted Kerala minister Thomas Isaac.