Pathanamthitta: Kerala BJP’s general secretary K Surendran was remanded to 14-day judicial custody by  Pathanamthitta special court magistrate. 

Surendran was taken into preventive custody under Sec 151 of the CrPC. He has also been charged under IPC 353 (non-bailable) for hindering the duty of public official by using criminal forces. 

Currently, Surendran has been taken to  Kottarakara sub-jail. 

However, Surendran claimed that his rights were being violated as he had come with the irumudikettu (a bag carried on the head with offerings for Lord Ayyappa, to be taken inside the temple) and had also booked a ticket for darshan. He said that he had not come as a protester, but as an Ayyappa devotee.

"I am willing to spend an entire lifetime in jail to protect the customs and traditions of the Ayyappa temple. The arrest is a political move of CPM. This is an intentional act to take revenge,” said Surendran.

Reports state that Surendran is allowed to keep the irumudikettu inside the jail and offer a two-day puja to Lord Ayyappa.

Surendran claimed that the police manhandled him and forced him to get into the van at 3 AM on Sunday. He said that he will challenge the police action against him legally as well as politically.