The Pathanamthitta district collector on Saturday extended the prohibitory orders imposed at Sabarimala and nearby areas to four more days.
The restrictions at Sabarimala, Nilakkal, Pamba and Illavunkal will be in place until December 12. The police had sought to extend the orders until January 14. The police had submitted a report to the district collector in this regard. The prohibitory orders were extended various times before.
The prohibitory orders issued under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) bans the assembly of four or more people.
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The police on Saturday arrested BJP leaders, including state vice president N. Shivarajan, for violating prohibitory orders at Nilakkal, the base camp of Sabarimala. They were taken to Perinad police station.
The restrictions were imposed after protests erupted against the Supreme Court's verdict allowing women of all age groups to enter the hill shrine.
Since the apex court verdict, no women in the 10-50 age group has succeeded in offering prayers at the shrine.
The temple was opened for the annual two-month-long Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, which began on November 17.
Meanwhile, three UDF MLAs continued their hunger strike on Saturday, demanding that the prohibitory orders in Sabarimala be withdrawn. BJP leader A.N. Radhakrishnan has also been on a fast against the restriction at the hill shrine.
