Siege brings functioning of Kochi collectorate to a standstill

The functioning of the district collectorate here came to a standstill for the better part of the day on Wednesday when thousands of workers owing allegiance to the CITU laid siege to it raising the slogan “Job, wages, and food.”

While the siege was officially stated to begin at 8 a.m., workers started arriving well before that, sealing all entry points to the collectorate. Protesting workers were seen seated before the entry points under make-shift pandals. They continued there till the siege came to end at 2 p.m. with an oath to fight the “anti-people” policies of the Central and State governments. By then, the day was practically over for most offices at the collectorate. However, some of the offices functioned till the end of the office hours.

Police personnel were present in large numbers in and around the collectorate well before the siege started. CITU-affiliated workers from various sectors started coming in droves to the collectorate by 7 a.m. By the time the inaugural meeting started, the roads leading to the collectorate were lined with two-wheelers and autorickshaws. Small time vendors selling snacks and refreshments had a good day as the scorching sun left many protesters seeking their service. Traffic through the collectorate junction was disrupted and the police had a tough time organising the movement of vehicles through the area, especially during the initial hours of the siege.