Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday sought a report from the Kerala government over the situation in the state after the entry of two women into the Sabarimala temple led to violent protests, reported The Indian Express. Things should be under control soon, Singh told the newspaper.

Prohibitory orders in Sabarimala and nearby areas were extended till January 14, Mathrubhumi reported. Violence had erupted in parts of the state on Friday night and early Saturday following the state-wide protests on Thursday. As many as 3,282 people have been arrested and 1,286 cases filed till Saturday in connection with the violence. Of those arrested, 2,795 have been granted bail, Director General of Police Loknath Behera said.

Unidentified people hurled bombs at CPI(M) legislator AM Shamseer’s house in Kannur district’s Thalassery around 10.15 pm on Friday, PTI reported, quoting police. “This was the conspiracy of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to instigate violence in the state,” Shamseer told the media. “They intend to create violence and destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the state.”

A few hours later, a bomb was hurled at former Bharatiya Janata Party state president and Rajya Sabha MP V Muralidharan’s ancestral home in Kannur. No one was injured in the incident. “My sister, brother-in-law and their daughter were in the house when the attack took place,” the BJP leader told PTI from Andhra Pradesh.

Unidentified people also hurled bombs at the house of former Kannur district secretary of CPI(M) P Sasi in Thalassery, while a party worker, Vishak, was attacked at Iritty in Kannur district. A group of around 25 CPI(M) workers allegedly assaulted RSS leader K Chandrasekharan in Thalassery and ransacked his house.

Loknath Behera sounded a state-wide alert and gave directions to take stern action against those responsible for the attacks, PTI reported. As many as 260 people have been arrested in connection with violence in Kannur in the last two days. In Thalassery, police took 33 people into preventive detention.

The police also staged a flag march in Thalassery following Friday night’s violence, according to Hindustan Times. In Adoor, bombs were hurled at two shops and the house of a CPI(M) leader. Seven people were injured in the incident.

Kerala: Country-made bomb hurled at CPI(M) MLA AN Shamseer's residence in Kannur. Police investigation underway pic.twitter.com/ORn99r90yC — ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly postponed his scheduled visit to the state on Sunday, according to Hindustan Times. “The prime minister’s visit to Pathanmathitta on January 6 was postponed due to some other engagements,” an unidentified BJP functionary said. “Though it has nothing to do with the current situation, we don’t want to aggravate the situation further.”

The BJP has also decided to stage a march to the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on January 15.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said all parties concerned should respect the rule of law, PTI reported. Farhan Haq said on Friday: “As you know, this is an issue on which the Supreme Court of India has commented. So, we will leave the matter in the hands of the rule of law authorities in India. Of course, we want all parties to respect the rule of law, and you’re aware of the UN’s position and its fundamental position on the rights on equal rights of all people.”

BJP, CPI(M) trade blames

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday claimed that the violence around the Sabarimala temple was unleashed by the state government, which it said had wreaked havoc and resulted in devotees being hurt and killed. The party also warned the state government of “constitutional consequences” for the violence.

“All this has been done by the CPI(M) goons with the full authority and support of the state government,” party spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said. “The CPI(M) has a history of unleashing violence against the RSS-BJP cadre, but today, they are not even sparing the devotees.”

He said the protests were not political, but were peaceful, meant to uphold the traditions of the temple. “This is an issue of devotees, not an issue of the BJP. This is an issue concerning the Hindu society,” Rao said.

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the RSS was trying to trigger riots and sabotage peace talks. He said the ruling party would work towards restoring peace in violence-hit areas.

Meanwhile, Kerala minister G Sudhakaran on Saturday called the chief priest of Sabarimala temple a “Brahmin monster”, PTI reported. The priest had shut the temple on Wednesday for purification rituals hours after two women offered prayers there.

“The tantri is a symbol of caste devil,” Sudhakaran said. “He is not a Brahmin. He is a Brahmin monster. If a Brahmin becomes a monster, he will be a terror. He is not a pure Brahmin.”