The Hindu : AIYF marches turn violent

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

AIYF marches turn violent

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 15. The march organised by the CPI-led All India Youth Federation (AIYF) to the Kerala Assembly today to protest against "commercialisation of education by the Antony Government" turned violent here when the police resorted to lathicharge resulting in injuries to many, including the CPI legislator, P. S. Supal.

The AIYF marchers took on the police personnel near the War Memorial at Palayam after the police thwarted their bid to move towards the Legislature Complex. The marchers were restive from the time the march began from the Press Club road behind the State Secretariat and once the police stopped them at the barricade erected near the Legislature, many tried to force their way into the Assembly complex. This was followed by heavy stone-throwing. The police soon set upon the marchers.

Mr. Supal, who is also the AIYF State president, was injured as he was trying to pacify the irate marchers who were pushing their way forward. He was rushed to the hospital in the car in which the CPI State secretary, Veliyam Bhargavan, arrived at the spot to inaugurate the march. The CPI leader inaugurated the march even as the friction between the police and the marchers continued.

The AIYF march in Kollam turned violent as soon as the marchers reached the main gate of the collectorate complex. The demonstrators initially tried to break the police barricade and on failing in their bid began to hurl stones at the police personnel who retaliated with a cane-charge. One police constable was injured on his head on being hit by a stone and was taken to the district hospital.

Following this, the police swung into action and beat up everybody in sight.

The marchers dispersed from the scene, only to reassemble before the main gate to the collectorate. By then, the police had arrested four AIYF activists and this resulted in a road blockade by their comrades and a showdown between them and the police at different points in the city.

Faced with some stiff action by the police personnel, some of the AIYF workers took refuge in the CPI district committee office at Chinnakkada.

The police barged into the party office and beat up the party district secretary and former MLA, K. R. Chandramohanan, who came out of the office to pacify the police personnel. He was rushed to the district hospital.

The leadership of the CPI, AIYF and various other organisations have come down strongly on the police action.

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