Southern States - Kerala   

Panchayat secretary held hostage

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM May 31. A race between the Congress `A' and `I' groups to claim the president's post in the Thrikadavur grama panchayat near here, led to some ugly scenes today. The `I' group members in the committee went to the extent of holding the panchayat secretary hostage for some time.

In the wake of the development, supporters from either group thronged the panchayat complex, which led to a tense situation. However, the intervention of the local Achalumoodu police resulted in the release of the panchayat secretary. The `I' members had demanded the resignation of the panchayat president, Yashodharan, who hails from the rival group. Even as the secretary was held hostage, the LDF members and the `A' group members held a demonstration demanding the release of the secretary.

The panchayat employees also held a separate demonstration to point out that employees and officers should not be made scapegoats in disputes between political parties. A strong police force was dispatched from Kollam as a preventive measure.

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