PATHANAMTHITTA: Protesters of Bharatiya Yuva Morcha who marched to Nilackal junction violating Sec 144 were removed and arrested by police on Thursday afternoon.Earlier, tension mounted at Nilackal again as Yuvamorcha activists started coming to stage protest, breaking sec 144. The first batch of protesters , four men, including Yuvamorcha state president Prakash Babu were arrested and removed by the cops. Pathanamthitta district collector PB Nooh said that the safety of Sabarimala pilgrims will be ensured. The administration has imposed curfew in the regions Illavungal to Sannidanam on Thursday and FridayUnder CrPC section 144, protests, public meetings and gatherings are prohibited in the area. Prayer processions, protest march and various protest programs are prohibited from Illavungal to SannidanamMeanwhile, the KSRTC services which were affected due to attacks and damage to their buses restarted services at noon on Thursday. Three buses left with police escort. It had male pilgrims and children.Speaking on the incident of attack on New York Times reporter Suhasini Raj which led to her returning back after climbing the route to Sannidhanam to cover the developments in Sabarimala, Pathanamthitta collector said that there was sufficient police security with NYT reporter. She took the call to return as she didn't want to create any trouble. Under existing circumstances the emergency can be ended by Friday. The decision to whether extend the restrictions will be taken after a review meeting, he said.At Sannidhanam, though police has increased strength, the inability to identify trouble makers from genuine pilgrims is turning out to be a handicap. Pilgrims were seen traveling in private vehicles. Taxis stayed off roads fearing vehicle attacks.Meanwhile, there were incidents of stone pelting and blocking of vehicles in many places in Ernakulam district also.In Malappuram district, most of transport and private vehicles kept off road in Malappuram in view of hartal. Two KSRTC buses were attacked by hartal supports at Kuttippuram and Chamravattom. The Bangore-Ponnani inter-state service of KSRTC bus was around 8am near Chamravattom junction.In another similar incident, KSRTC bus from Bangluru to Kollam, was attacked at Kalachal near Edappal and driver of the bus injured in the incident .Two police men were injured in a hartal related violence near Tanur. Civil police officers attached to Tanur police station have been admitted to a hospital in Tanur. District police chief Parthish Kumar visited violence hit areas in Taur.A media person was assaulted in Maranchery near Ponnani by the hartal supporters. Reporter of a local TV channel , Sanoop, was attacked while reporting the blockade staged by hartal supporters.

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