Kollam SP march turns violent

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM, FEB. 7. A march taken out by the Youth Congress(I) to the SP office here this morning turned violent, resulting in a clash between the protesters and the police.

Over 75 Youth Congress(I) activists, including their State president, Mr. K. C. Venugopal, the Kollam Dy. SP, Mr. Jinarajan, and 20 policemen, were hospitalised. The police had caused heavy damage to the DCC(I) office. Some Youth Congress(I) leaders who took refuge in the DCC(I) office were beaten up by the police who broke open the doors. Policemen destroyed some vehicles parked at the DCC(I) office compound.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. A. K. Antony, the KPCC(I) president, Mr. Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, and the Congress(I) leaders, Mr. Oommen Chandy and Mr. Vayalar Ravi, rushed to the office on hearing the news. Later, the UDF called for a hartal in the district tomorrow. Mr. Antony said a State-wide protest would be registered by the UDF against the police attack.

The hospitalised police officers include the Kollam ASP trainee, Mr. Jayaraj, the Kundara CI, Mr. Najeeb, and the sub-inspector, Mr. Pradeep Wales, Mr. Vinod Kumar, Mr. S. Varadharajan and Mr. Santosh, and the Congress(I) leaders include the Youth Congress(I) general secretary, Mr. Pratapavarma Thampan, and the KPCC(I) leader, Mr. V. Sathyaseelan.

The march was organised to press for the suspension of the Kollam SP, Mr. Manoj Abraham, and the resignation of the Kollam MP, Mr. P. Rajendran, and the Kundara MLA, Ms. Mercykutty Amma, in connection with the S.N. College ``developments''.At least 11 vehicles, including seven private jeeps and a Tata Sumo in which Youth Congress(I) activists arrived for the march, were damaged.

Though things began on a peaceful note, violence broke out after a group of marchers began hurling stones at a police van parked in front of the DCC(I) office. This began after police blocked a section of the marchers and a heated argument between police officers and Mr. Venugopal. Soon the protest meeting was called off.

Later, the marchers attacked the police with stones. When the police resorted to lathicharge, they fled to the DCC(I) compound from where they began hurling stones at the police. When this continued, the police rushed to the DCC(I) compound and attacked the vehicles parked there. They then entered the DCC(I) office and beat up several persons, including Mr. K. C. Venugopal and the Youth Congress(I) State vice-president, Mr. Babu Prasad, who were inside.

The activists alleged that the police prevented them from taking a bleeding Mr. Prasad and Mr. Venugopal to hospital. Finally they had to carry Mr. Venugopal for over 500 metres through the road before getting an autorickshaw.

Also, there are allegations that the police entered the district hospital and arrested at least six Youth Congress(I) activists who were admitted there with injuries. This led to tension in the area and the prime business areas of the town and shopkeepers downed their shutters.

Earlier, Mr. Ramesh Chennithala, inaugurated a protest meeting in front of the SP office. Later, he along with Mr. Oommen Chandy and Mr. G. Karthikeyan staged a sathyagraha at the Kollam East Police station in protest against the arrests.

Talking to presspersons later, Mr. Antony said the police and the CPI(M) were trying to play with fire. He demanded that the State Government compensate for the damage inflicted on the DCC(I) office. The police behaved as though they were CPI(M) cadres, he said.

The Youth Congress(I) president, Mr. K. C. Venugopal, MLA, being carried to hospital from the DCC(I) office.

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