The police have arrested more than 2,000 people in two days after authorities launched a crackdown on protesters who prevented women from entering the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

More than 700 people from Pathanamthitta district, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Ernakulam and other places have been arrested in 12 hours, said Director General of Police Loknath Behra.

Across the state, 2,061 people have been arrested after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with police officials and ordered a crackdown on those defying a Supreme Court order. A total of 452 cases have been registered against 2,300 people.

The Supreme Court on September 28 overturned a centuries-old practice that barred women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hill temple, where a celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped.

The police chief said the crackdown will continue. “Cases have been registered as that’s the way it should be done. We have also decided to set up a Special Committee to see that the upcoming festival season (starting on November 17 for two months) does not see a repeat of the situation in October,” said Behra.

However, at least 1,500 of the arrested people have been let off on bail to avoid overcrowding of jails, officials said.

On October 29, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will review the actions taken against Sabarimala protesters.

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Friday accused Vijayan of trying to turn Sabarimala into a conflict zone.

“The Chief Minister is unnecessarily trying to create unpleasant situations by appointing CPI-M activists to take on the devotees. The Travancore Devasom Board (TDB) has turned out to be a complete failure and hence it should be disbanded,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Kerala Police released photographs of over 200 people suspected to have been involved in the protests at Sabarimala.

Meanwhile, as part of steps to beef up security at the ‘Sannidhanam’ (temple complex), it has been decided to deploy 5,000 additional police personnel during the three-month-long ‘mandalam-makaravillaku’ season starting on November 17.

So far, not a single woman in the age group of 10 and 50 have reached the temple.

Though attempts had been made by some young women, including an activist, to enter the temple of the ‘Naishtik Brahmachari’, the eternally celibate deity, the devotees backed by priests have stood their ground, saying they would not allow the tradition to be breached.

According to police sources, 12 women in the 10-50 age group have so far been prevented from offering worship at the temple, after it opened for the monthly pooja.

Kerala witnessed a series of agitations by various devotee groups and Hindu outfits against the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s decision to implement the apex court order without going for any review petition.

(With inputs from IANS)