Tension prevailed at Emblasseri, near Neryamangalam, on Saturday after a group of people led by Joice George, Idukki MP, allegedly tried to assault Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
The Minister was there to inspect the Mamalakandam- Kurathikudy road, where the Forest Department had demolished slabs over three-metre width on culverts constructed by the Public Works Department as part of the Malayora Highway.
Mr. George had gone on fast demanding action against Forest Department officials for demolishing the slabs and restoring eight-metre width of the road. The High Range Protection Council, with the support of the CPI(M), observed a hartal in Idukki district last Saturday in support of the demand.
There are allegations that a group of Congress workers led by DCC president Roy K.Poulose tried to manhandle Mr. George after the Minister’s vehicle was blocked.
Idukki Superintendent of Police Alex M. Varkey said a police team led by Munnar ASP was camping at the area. He said a case would be registered for blocking the vehicle of the Minister and attempting to assault him.
It is alleged that a member of the gang tried to push the Minister from the car.
The Minister was deputed by the Chief Minister to find a solution after the Forest Department registered cases against PWD officials and the contractor for constructing an eight-metre wide road on the forest stretch, for which the sanction of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests was required.
There was tension in the area after the tribal people started an agitation demanding restoration of the road and Mr. George had alleged that some officials of the Forest Department were behind the “anti-people” stance in connivance with the Minister. The MP had claimed that he called off the fast on an assurance that the road width would be maintained at eight metres, which the Forest Minister denied.
