Sabarimala Temple Row LIVE updates: State-wide shutdown begins amid protests in Kerala

An umbrella organisation of various pro-Hindutva groups have called for a state-wide shutdown on Thursday, amid protests at several places after entry of two women into the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala.

As the news of the women entering the temple spread, protests erupted with right-wing activists blocking highways and forcing closure of shops and markets on Wednesday. Media personnel, reporting from outside the state secretariat, were allegedly attacked by BJP and Yuva Morcha activists during the protests.

Announcing the dawn-to-dusk shutdown on behalf of the Sabarimala Karma Samiti Samiti, its leader K P Sasikala said the government has betrayed devotees.

(With PTI inputs)

Public transport services halted from many parts of Tamil Nadu- Kerala borders. Both KSRTC & TNSRTC buses are stranded.

United Democratic Front to observe 'black day' in the state.

An Ayyappa devotee named Chandran Unnithaan succumbed to injuries after he was grievously hurt during the protests and stone pelting at Pandalam on Wednesday night. 

Heavy security deployment in many parts of Kerala in view of the strike by various organizations.

The hartal is happening without anyone's force or inducement. People are willingly cooperating for the hartal. This hartal is proof that what the government has done is absolutely wrong and illegal. People are protesting at large: Kerala BJP chief P.S. Sreedharan Pillai

2 CP(M) (Communist Party of India (Marxist)) workers arrested on Thursday in connection to the death of Sabarimala Karma Samithi Worker and devotee Chandran Unnithaan, which happened earlier on Wednesday. 

5 people arrested in Paravur, Ernakulam district for allegedly attacking a woman cop amid the protests

Several BJP workers march ahead to protest in Kochi against the entry of women in Sabarimala Temple.

The Supreme Court refuses urgent hearing on contempt plea moved against Sabarimala Temple authorities for closing shrine after two women entered the sanctorum on Wednesday morning.

Police have been deployed to ensure that protest does not happen. We will provide security to the women. Police have also suffered injuries. Those women were not taken in any helicopter. They went in like normal devotees and got the darshan also normally: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan addresses press briefing over the ongoing protests in the state over Sabarimala Temple row

It's not an ordinary protest. Everything seems to have been pre-planned. I have not seen these kinds of protests in the state in the name of religion before: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

More visuals from the protest in Kerala by news agency ANI:

3 people including BJP activist stabbed in Kerala's Thrissur amid protest. The victims have been identified as Sujith, Rajeesh, Sreejith, who have sustained injuries in the protest. All three of them have been admitted to the hospital.

Kerala Governor seeks an urgent update on the law and order situation on the incidents of violence and damage to properties from Kerala CM:

V Murleedharan meets Home Minister Rajnath Singh demands probe from national security agencies into the entry of two women in the sanctum of Sabarimala Temple

More arrest in connection with protest violence. Here are the latest figures:

• 745 people arrested in connection with multiple incidents of violence in the state 
• 559 cases registered across Kerala 
• 628 people taken as precautionary custody