Guv briefs Rajnath Singh over law and order situation in Ker

As Kerala continued to witness incidents of violence, Governor Justice P Sathasivam Saturday briefed the Centre about the law and order situation in the southern state.

"Briefed Hon'ble Union Home Minister @HMOIndia Shri. Rajnath Singh about the law and order situation in Kerala in the last two days #kerala," he tweeted.

Raj Bhavan sources told PTI that the Governor, who is now in Chennai, briefed Singh about the situation over phone.

With the state witnessing widespread violence during the 12-hour state-wide shutdown called by Hindu fringe groups on Thursday, Sathasivam had sought an "urgent report" from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

He had also appealed to all sections of people to maintain calm and peace across the state.

The entry of two women of reproductive age into the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala on Wednesday, the first time since the Supreme Court in September last year lifted the age-linked ban on entry of women devotees, has triggered massive protests in Kerala.

Violence involving BJP-RSS and ruling CPI(M) workers rocked parts of Kerala, particularly Kannur, Saturday with a number of houses and shops of rival leaders and workers being attacked over the issue.