Kannur (Kerala) | BJP workers on Monday staged a protest by squatting on a busy road and blocking traffic in this north Kerala district, demanding the arrest of CPI(M) leader P P Divya, accused of abetting the suicide of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu.

The saffron party leaders and workers marched to the police commissioner's office here, alleging police inaction in arresting Divya, who was recently removed as the District Panchayat President by the party.

The BJP workers, including women, sat on the road and raised slogans against the police and Divya, who is yet to make a public appearance after the alleged suicide of the ADM.

Police could be seen dragging the protesters through the road to shift them to the police vehicle.

Several rounds of water canons were also used by the police to disperse the protesters.

Later, the BJP workers protested in front of the Town police station here demanding the release of their arrested leaders and activists.

Opposition parties, including the BJP, have been raising strong criticism against the CPI(M)-led state government for not arresting Divya even days after the death of the ADM.

The BJP protest happened at a time when a court here is expected to pronounce its order on the anticipatory bail plea of Divya on Tuesday.

Attending ADM Naveen Babu's send-off function allegedly uninvited on October 14, Divya had criticised Babu for delaying the approval of the petrol pump in Chengalai for several months and remarked that he granted approval only two days after being transferred, hinting that she knew the reasons behind the sudden approval.

The next day, Babu was found dead at his quarters in Kannur.