Thiruvananthapuram witnesses tense moments following Youth Congress-SFI clash
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The capital city of Keralam witnessed tense moments after Youth Congress and SFI workers clashed in Palayam on Wednesday.Β Β | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
The State capital witnessed tense moments late Wednesday evening after Youth Congress and Students Federation of India (SFI) activists clashed at Palayam.
Palayam and MG Road turned into a battlefield for hours, disrupting late evening traffic and creating tense moments in the State capital. The police burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the activists as the violence spread to the University College and the road outside the Secretariat.
Several youths and at least one police officer were injured in the violence that erupted during a Youth Congress march towards Statue Junction on Wednesday evening demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The violence reportedly broke out first near the University College menβs hostel. Youth Congress and SFI activists blamed each other for triggering the violence by throwing stones and bottles. The SFI accused the Youth Congress and KSU workers of hurling flaming torches inside the hostel grounds when the lights went out during the power-cut.
The capital city of Keralam witnessed tense moments after Youth Congress and SFI workers clashed in Palayam on Wednesday.Β | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan addresses the media on Wednesday night.Β Β | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Subsequent police action inside the hostel grounds drew sharp criticism from the SFI and senior CPI(M) leaders, including P.K. Sreemathy, V. Joy, V. Sivankutty, and SFI State secretary P.S. Sanjeev who soon arrived on the scene. Mr. Sanjeev alleged that the Youth Congress activists had blocked an ambulance taking injured students to the hospital. They also demanded stern action against the police officers who assaulted students at the menβs hostel.
By 10 p.m., Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan arrived at the hostel and spoke to the injured students. Mr. Vijayan said there was no provocation on the part of the SFI activists or the hostel residents. He accused the Youth Congress of launching the attack and described it as planned. CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby and CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam condemned the police action at the hostel. Mr. Baby alleged that the Youth Congress workers had started the attack by hurling stones, beer bottles and burning torches. This was followed by the police entering the hostel grounds and attacking the students, according to him. SFI has also called a Statewide strike on Thursday in protest against the incident.
Yuva Morcha activists blocked Local Self-Government Minister K.M. Shajiβs car at Vanross Junction, while he was on his way home from the Secretariat. Although the Minister left the car and tried to leave in an autorickshaw, the activists blocked that vehicle also, forcing the Minister to leave the autorickshaw and walk. Meanwhile, it was alleged that unidentified persons had hurled a beer bottle at Mararji Bhavan, the State headquarters of the BJP.
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