THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over 3,345 protesters who prevented women from entering the Sabarimala temple, have been arrested since October 26 while 517 cases have been registered at various police stations across the state, authorities said on Sunday.

On Sunday morning, Sabarimala tantri family member and activist Rahul Eashwar was arrested here taking the total number of arrests 3,346. He has been taken to Kochi.

Eashwar was arrested after the police received a complaint stating that he had made provocative remarks over the issue at a press conference in Kochi last week.

Meanwhile in the last 12 hours, over 500 arrests was recorded at police stations in Pathanamthitta where the Lord Ayyappa shrine is located as well as Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Ernakulam.

So far only 122 are in remand, while others have been released on bail, according to the police.

However, state police chief Loknath Behra has directed that no arrest should be made of those people who protested by taking part in singing hymns and prayers.

These arrests have been made for defying the September 28 Supreme Court order that overturned a ban on women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hilltop temple where celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped.