Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress launched a series of agitations across the state against the ruling front and the incidents of violence during the Nava Kerala Sadas programme, on Wednesday, the same day the Sadas entered the capital city.
The Youth Congress march to the Kerala Secretariat here turned violent, and the dress of woman leader VK Shibina was torn by the police during the face-off. The state president Rahul Mankoottathil, who was hit on the head by a lathi, and vice-president Albin Varkey, also sustained injuries.
The rucks began when the police blocked the Youth Congress march to the Secretariat using barricades. The police used water cannons five times to disperse the crowd, who retaliated with canes and pelting stones. A banner titled 'Is Chief Minister goon?' was placed by the Congress workers in front of the Secretariat.
Agitators vandalised the boards placed in front of the secretariat as part of the Nava Kerala Sadas. Police lathi-charged at protestors and arrested them following an altercation between the two groups. Police were deployed near the wall inside the secretariat to prevent activists from entering.
The Youth Congress state secretary Hashim, who was detained by the police, was denied treatment even though wounded in the clash. He was released forcibly by the co-activists from the police vehicle through its window, smashing the windscreens of the vehicle.
The violence escalated when police tried to storm into the District Congress Committee (DCC) office to apprehend the party workers, who were earlier arrested and released from custody by top party intervention. The activists were taken back by the Opposition leader VD Satheesan on his official vehicle to the DCC office.
Congress leaders including Satheesan protested against the police, denying the latter from entering the DCC office. The impasse prevailed for around an hour till the police withdrew.
Satheesan later warned the Kerala government, that it could expect a strong response from the Opposition if action was not taken against the police personnel who unleashed violence amid the Congress' protest on Wednesday. Similar protests will be held by KSU on Thursday, said the Congress state president K Sudhakaran. A march towards the DGP office was also announced by the party and will be held on Saturday.
There was also widespread tension in the Congress marches, to police stations across the state, against the attacks by police and CPM workers on the Youth Congress and KSU activists who protested against the Nava Kerala Sadas. The march was organised against 564 police stations in the state. The march organised to the City Police Commissioner's office in Ernakulam also turned violent.
