Watch: Kerala woman performs namaz in middle of busy road in Palakkad - 'Prayer protest'

An elderly woman was briefly taken into police custody on Wednesday after she was seen offering Namaz in the middle of a busy road near the IMA Junction in Palakkad. The incident caused traffic disruption for some time before police officers intervened and moved her to safety.

According to the Palakkad South Police, the woman is in her early sixties and comes from Kollengode. She had allegedly been visiting government offices in the district to seek help in solving a land dispute with her husband's family.

Woman blocks busy road by performing Namaz in the middle of traffic in Palakkad, Kerala. She offered prayers at IMA Junction on Wednesday noon, amid passing vehicles. Residents and drivers tried to move her but failed. Police took her to custody; she later informed this was… pic.twitter.com/AEdlyLR4RJ

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Witnesses said she was dressed in white prayer clothes and suddenly sat down on the roadside to pray, which slowed down vehicles on the crowded stretch.

A police officer stated that the woman appeared emotionally disturbed and may not have been mentally well at the time. It seemed like she became agitated when she reached the IMA junction and began praying as a protest,” TOI quoted an officer with the Palakkad South police, as saying.

Considering her age and mental condition, the police decided not to file any case against her. Instead, they contacted her brother, who arrived at the station. The woman was later sent home with him after receiving a warning from the authorities.