SABARIMALA: The BJP leaders have called off the protest they were holding in front of Sannidhanam police station against the arrest of nine Ayyappa devotees from Sannidhanam.

The protest was ended on Tuesday night after the police assured them of the release of persons taken into custody.

BJP leaders under the leadership of MPs V Muraleedharan and Nalin Kumar Katteel had protested at the station in the evening. Police had arrested nine Kollam Paravur natives from Sannidhanam. Police took them into custody, alleging they were BJP men who reached Sabarimala for protests as per the circular of the BJP.

Muraleedharan asked the police officers on whose orders they were taken into custody and what circumstances existed that prevented their darshan.
Meanwhile, nine arrested persons were shifted to Pamba police station later in the day.