An activist of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing Yuva Morcha, carrying the BJP flag, leapt on to the road in front of the car carrying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Kochi on Sunday. Security personnel immediately apprehended the man, who was later identified as Srikanth Sreedharan, Ernakulam district president of the Yuva Morcha.
The police said Srikanth was admitted to the orthopaedic ward of a hospital here in the evening after he sustained injuries when security officials tackled him to the ground.
Eye-witnesses said the Prime Minister’s car had crossed the Ernakulam Market Canal bridge and had moved a little further south when the protester jumped on to the road from a divider forcing the driver of the Prime Minister’s car to resort to a quick change of course.
Heavy security The area, which was under heavy security on account of the Prime Minister’s visit, had a considerable number of policemen both in uniform and in mufti. They were quick to react and picked up the protester and put him in a police vehicle.
The Central police registered a case against him under Section 353 of the IPC for obstructing police officials in the course of their duty.
The police also put 12 activists of the party under preventive detention during the Prime Minister’s visit. They were let out on bail after the Prime Minister’s flight left the city.
Reward for officials Police officials said the City Police Commissioner had recommended a reward for the security officials who helped remove the protester from in front of the Prime Minister’s car.
