The ongoing agitation by Youth Congress activists against the agreement between the government and private medical college managements took a violent turn on Saturday after activists obstructed the vehicle of Forest Minister K. Raju.
The incident took place in front of the Secretariat around 11 a.m. as Mr. Raju’s vehicle was passing by the venue of the hunger strike, which entered its fifth day, led by Youth Congress state president Dean Kuriakose. A group of protesters obstructed the vehicle, demanding the government’s intervention to resolve the agitation.
Police personnel made an attempt to remove the agitators and clear the road. However, a few agitators reportedly hurled chairs at the police posse, following which they had to resort to a lathi-charge and use water cannons to disperse the protesters.
Later, a group of Kerala Students Union activists waved black flags at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after obstructing his vehicle near the regional office of NABARD, a short distance from the Secretariat.
Protest in Kannur
Youth Congress workers waved black flags at Health Minister K.K. Shylaja in Kannur on Saturday. She was attending a programme organised by the Information and Public Relations Department to mark the 100th day of the LDF government.
