PATHANAMTHITTA: My arrest was a vengeful act by the CPM and the state government, alleged BJP state general secretary K Surendran. I am ready to spend all my life in jail to protect rituals. Surendran who spoke to the media before being remanded said the police have charged me under non-bailable sections. I am no criminal, nor do I have any cases against me. They did not let me sleep, nor was I allowed water or to take my medicines.

Surendran said, “The police attacked me when I was going to Sabarimala with the irumudikettu. They did not allow me to take my medicines. The police did not even allow me to attend to my basic needs.”

The state unit of the BJP observed a protest on Sunday by blocking highways across the state following the arrest and the subsequent remand of senior party leader K Surendran.

Surendran was taken into custody on Saturday night after he got into a scuffle with the police while attempting to go to the Sabarimala temple despite police cordon in the area.

Surendran is currently at the Kottarakara sub-jail.

"The police even roughed up my 'Irumudi kettu' (a mandatory holy kit to be taken to the temple)."