The demolition of a historically important monument here by the Army evoked widespread protests by political parties.
The monument, a platform known as the ‘vilakkumthara,’ which supported a lamp post during the freedom struggle, was demolished in the early hours of Sunday.
The platform, located in the Cantonment area here, had been preserved as a historical monument. Erected in 1918, it had been a landmark and the ground where it was located is still known as ‘Vilakkumthara Maidan,’ a venue for political meetings and protests during the freedom struggle. The ground in the Cantonment area, which houses the barracks of the Defence Security Corps and the 122 Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army, had been walled in years ago for the construction of a school.
Condemning the demolition of the monument, the district leaderships of the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) demanded its restoration.
