Over 68 people were taken into preventive custody at the Sabarimala Shrine late Sunday night after fresh protests broke out at the Nadapanthal area in the Sannidhanam.

Devotees gathered at the covered pathway to the temple on the second day of pilgrimage before being asked to leave. Due to the previous incidents of violence at the hill-top shrine, the police had imposed strict restrictions for devotees at the Sannidhanam, including not allowing them to stay back at night.         

Police sources told PTI that 68 persons had been taken into preventive custody from the temple complex and brought to the Manniyar camp early this morning. Their details are being verified and their arrests have not been recorded yet.    

A large number of BJP and RSS workers staged protest outside the official residence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan late Sunday night against the detention of devotees. Simultaneous protests also were held across arious places across the state in Aranmula, Kochi, Kollam, Alapuzha, Ranni, Thodupuzha, Kaladi, Malappuram and Idukki among others.

Earlier on Sunday, the BJP observed 'protest day' in the state against the arrest of its general secretary K Surendran. Surendran, along with two others were taken into preventive custody after they forcibly tried to leave for the hill shrine at Sabarimala.

BJP workers blocked traffic on the national highways for over an hour across the state protesting against the arrest and remand of Surendran. In Vatakara, a KSRTC bus was stoned, police said.