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LDF walkout over lathicharge

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 24. The Opposition LDF members walked out of the Assembly today in protest against the Government's refusal to allow a discussion on the police lathicharge on SFI activists in Thiruvalla, Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Wayanad district on Wednesday.

The Opposition members, who sought adjournment of the proceedings to discuss the issue, accused the police of having set upon the students without any provocation. The charge was strongly contested by the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, who said the police had observed maximum restraint in dealing with the students who had resorted to unprovoked violence.

Mr. Antony made it clear that the police would be firm in handling violence and cautioned the Opposition that it would be of no use if it complained later. Agitations, he said, could not be allowed to end in wanton destruction of public property. The Government was trying its best to solve the self-financing professional college row. It could go in for legislation in the matter only after the Supreme Court gave its views. The apex Court has been hearing the case for the last three days, he pointed out.

The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, said the Opposition was fed up with the Chief Minister's appeal for restraint. Even as the Chief Minister appealed to the students to remain calm, fees were being hiked indiscriminately. How could the students be expected to keep quiet when the private managements were indiscriminately hiking the fees? he asked.

Mr. Achuthanandan alleged that in most cases the provocation came from the police. While the students observed restraint, police personnel in civil dress were throwing stones on vehicles and shops to provoke student violence and lathicharges.

Earlier, seeking leave for the adjournment motion, Raju Abraham (CPI-M) alleged that police personnel far outnumbered students in places where the lathicharge had taken place and that it many places, male police personnel had beaten up and manhandled girls. He called for stern action against the erring police officials.

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