In view of the escalating political violence, District Collector S. Venkatesapathy on Thursday issued prohibitory orders in areas coming under the Neyyattinkara and Kattakada police circles for five days.
Invoking Section 81(1) of the Kerala Police Act, the Collector, who is also the District Magistrate, has banned processions, demonstrations, public meetings and sloganeering in areas that included Neyyattinkara, Balaramapuram, Naruvamoodu, Marayamuttom, Kattakada and Marannalloor police station limits. The prohibitory orders were clamped on the basis of a recommendation that was made by the Thiruvananthapuram (Rural) police in light of the worsening law and order situation.
The region covering Balaramapuram and the adjoining areas has been on the boil since the arrest of Congress legislator M. Vincent on the suspicion of rape of a homemaker. Congress and CPI(M) workers clashed at Balaramapuram on Wednesday, leading to many activists and policemen sustaining injuries.
The police had registered a case against 200 activists of either groups.
The prohibitory orders were imposed on the same day when the CPI(M) was set to take out a march to Mr. Vincent’s residence at Balaramapuram demanding his resignation as legislator. The police anticipated attempts by Congress workers to counter any such demonstrations. With the demonstrations being called off, peace was restored in the area.
Meanwhile, the areas that came under the Kattakada police circle has been witnessing a spike in clashes between CPI (M) and BJP workers with several properties being vandalised.
As many as seven similar cases have been reported from various places in the region including Veeranakavu, Poovachal, Kattakada and Pattakulam during the last few days. The police have stepped up surveillance in the region to prevent any further retaliatory attacks.