(Image source from: www.News18.com)

The authorities in Kerala launched a high-level a crackdown on protesters who obstructed women in the 10-50 age group from entering the Sabarimala temple and have arrested over 1,400 people across the state.

Subsequently, 258 cases were registered against 2,000 people for defying an order of the Supreme Court that has permitted women of all age groups to visit the temple.

The crackdown comes a day after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan chaired a high-level meeting with senior police officials in Thiruvananthapuram.

The police arrested people from Pathanamthitta - the district where the place of worship is located, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and some other places.

The arrests had turned into a certainty after the police first released pictures of more than 200 people who they thought were responsible for attacking the police, media, and pilgrims.

The Supreme Court had on September 28 reversed a centuries-old custom that prohibited women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hill temple, where a celibate god Lord Ayyappa is worshiped.

On October 17, the temple opened at 5 p.m. for the monthly pujas which concluded on October 22. Protesters ensured that no female in the 10-50 age could enter the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine.

Kerala BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) President P.S. Sreedharan Pillai said that he would soon approach the High Court against the police action against the devotees.

"What's happening now is false cases are being registered against the devotees who stood to protect the traditions of the temple. This is done purposely by the CPI-M (Communist Party of India (Marxist) to finish off this famed temple," said Pillai.

Senior BJP leader and spokesperson A.N. Radhakrishnan said that they won't be cowed down by the cases foisted on the devotees, and will take out a march to the Pathanamthitta police station on Friday.

-Sowmya Sangam