Sannidhanam: Scores of devotees came out of nowhere surprising cops to take over Nadapanthal late into the night. Police have marked the area highly sensitive and had cordoned it off using ropes. Things went out of hand as far as cops using force to push them out of the area while trying to arrest Rajesh, a man who took responsibility of leadership and talked to the special officer.“Devotees come here to pray. They are not allowing that. They block devotees on the way making them sleep in mud. They won't let us keep viris at Sannidhanam making us leave the temple premises immediately. This is cruel form side of the cops and the state government,” said Rajesh while resisting arrest.Sannidhanam, which remained peaceful for the past three days, was literally converted into a danger zone as protestors have now taken the control back.It was after devotees came marching to the Nadapanthal from the side of the Malikapuram temple that things went south. As the protestors staged a sit-in at Nadapanthal minutes before Harivarasanam being sung marking the end of days rituals, SP Pratheesh Kumar, SO came to them to talk.Rajesh emerged the leader and demanded that the restrictions be lifted. The cops had an argument with them leading to them continuing the sit-in.Soon, Harivarasanam was sung turning the area silent. Devotees turned towards the temple and recited the song along. As soon as it got over, the SP came back to the protesters.They were trying to leave Nadakathal and go to the halting point at Malkapuram when cops managed to divide them into two groups.The SP told Rajesh that he needed to cooperate with the arrest for violation of Section 144 leaving the place resonating with Ayyappa chants. They resisted as police started pushing them out of Nadapantjal.Rajesh returned to being the leader and repeated that devotees have the right to come together and recite chants. Cops and the protestors are now face to face neither of them making a move.

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