CHENGANNUR: Yuva Morcha activists on Sunday showed black flags to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Mulakuzha, near Chengannur, in protest against the arrest of BJP State General Secretary K Surendran.

The activists came in front of the chief minister's car, shouted slogans and waved black flags to him creating a panic situation, following which the agitators were taken into custody.

The protest occurred when the chief minister was on his way to Chengannur town to inaugurate a housing scheme for 2000 flood affected families.

In another protest, the BJP workers staged a march from the railway station to the programme venue of the chief minister. However, police stopped them a few metres away from the venue.

Meanwhile, four women were arrested from the venue, when they chanted the names of Lord Ayyappa (namajapam) in protest against police atrocities against devotees and BJP leaders.

The event was attended by Devaswom Board Minister Kadakampally Surendran, PWD Minister K Sudhakaran, Finance Minister Dr TM Thomas Isaac and Food and Civil Supplies Minister P Thilothaman.

Meanwhile, BJP State Spokesperson B Gopalakrishnan violated the prohibitory orders clamped under section 144 CrPC at Nilakkal in protest against the arrest of K Surendran.

Police arrested a nine-member team including the BJP leader from Nilakkal.

In another political development, a four member delegation deputed by BJP National President Amit Shah arrived at Kochi and attended a meeting of the BJP core committee members.

The four members -- Saroj Pandey, Vinod Sonkar, Pralhad Joshi and Nalin Kumar Kateel, will also submit a detailed report on the current political situation in the state to Mr Shah before December 15.

They also met Governor Justice (Retd) P Sathasivam and handed over a memorandum seeking action against police restrictions on devotees and atrocities against BJP leaders.

Later, the team left for Pandalam to meet the representatives of Pandalam Palace, the members of Sabarimala Karma Samiti, and a few members of other agitating organisations.

Later, they will leave for Thiruvananthapuram this evening to visit party's State general secretary K Surendran at Poojappura Jail at 0900 hrs on Monday.

After that, they will inaugurate the indefinite fast to stage by party state general secretary AN Radhakrishnan in front of State Secretariat at 1100 hours.

Announcing that party workers will stage protests in a widespread manner to expose the Government's clandestine plan against K Surendran, the BJP leaders said the Chief Minister and a few officials in his office are responsible for the conspiracy against K Surendran.

They also alleged that K Surendran was denied human rights in police custody.