Students' marches turn violent

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 4. The agitation launched by the United Democratic Students Action Council today for a judicial probe into the sanctioning of Plus Two courses after keeping the Education Minister, Mr. P. J. Joseph, out of office was marked by large-scale stone-throwing and use of force by police.

The incidents were reported mainly from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kottayam.

The UDF has called for observing tomorrow as ``protest day'' against the ``repression'' of students. The convener of the council, Mr. Satheesan Pacheni, said students would conduct demonstrations in and outside the colleges all over the State tomorrow to protest against the police action.

In the capital, the trouble erupted when a meeting organised by the marchers before the Secretariat was drawing to a close. According to the police, it was triggered by the marchers' bid to force their way into the nerve centre of the State's administration. The students, however, claimed that policemen in civvies started stone-throwing after showering the marchers with abuse.

When the police swung into action, the marchers ran helter- skelter, some of them hurling stones at vehicles and buildings on the way. A KSEB jeep was set on fire, a Health Department van was attacked and KSRTC buses were stoned and their tyres deflated. As many as 55 persons, 37 students and 18 police personnel, including seven officers - suffered injuries. The seriously injured were admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. A.K. Antony, and other leaders visited the students in the hospital later.

The alleged blocking of students at the KPCC(I) Junction while they were returning after a demonstration before the Kanayannoor Taluk Office is said to have led to the trouble in Kochi. The situation deteriorated suddenly with flying missiles and a charging police.

In Kozhikode, the police had to swing lathis when the protesters tried to storm the office of the Deputy Director of Education. A dozen demonstrators and three police personnel suffered injuries. Half a dozen KSRTC buses were damaged.

At least 13 persons, including eight police personnel, were injured when a march taken out to the Collectorate in Kottayam turned violent. The marchers tried to force their way into the Collectorate. The stone-throwing began when the bid failed. Eight police personnel and five students were injured.

The leaders of the United Democratic Students Action Council and the Congress(I) held the police responsible for the trouble. They alleged that it was part of the Government's move to suppress the protest against the sanctioning of the Plus Two courses. The senior Congress(I) leader, Mr. K. Karunakaran, characterised the police action as a student-hunt and said it was an indication of the ``police raj'' towards which the State was moving. He charged the Government with trying to suppress the mass upsurge against the irregularities in the sanctioning of Plus Two courses.

Mr. Antony charged the police with resorting to very cruel repression. The Congress(I) leader, Mr. G. Karthikeyan, demanded action against the police personnel responsible for the ``terrible and brutal'' lathicharge. The Youth Congress(I) leader, Mr. K. C. Venugopal, described the police action as pre- planned. He said the marches planned to be taken to the AEO offices tomorrow against corruption would also highlight the use of force by the police.

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Section  : Southern States
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