The Kozhikode rural police have imposed prohibitory orders in two areas of the district following violent protests after the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple. The Perambra and Vadakara police stations have imposed the order within their jurisdictions, which is to continue for the next five days from Friday.

The prohibitory orders were imposed to regulate public assembly and post-hartal violence reported on Thursday.

Political parties were planning to conduct processions and protests on Friday after the state-wide hartal imposed by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi on Thursday. Imposition of prohibitory orders will prevent these political parties from organising gatherings and protest programmes, helping maintain law and order in the district, a senior police officer told the Times of India.

The prohibitory orders were imposed under Sections 78 and 79 of the Kerala Police Act, which deals with regulation to prevent violence and regulation of public assemblies.

Police have also banned use of placards, publicity material, display of posters etc. Police forces have been deployed in Perambra and Vadakara town.

Kerala witnessed violent protests following the entry of two women- Bindu and Kanakadurga - into the Sabarimala temple in the wee hours of Wednesday. On Thursday, a state-wide hartal was announced by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi over the issue. It was during the hartal that violence broke out in several districts. In Kozhikode, right-wing protestors marched into the office of the district police chief during the hartal.