A demonstration by the Youth Congress demanding the resignation of Transport Minister Thomas Chandy on Monday turned violent, leaving some activists injured.
The march to Cliff House was blocked by the police at Devaswom Board Junction. After burning the Minister in effigy, the activists attempted to topple the barricades erected there. The police were forced to react as the agitators began to hurl stones at them.
The police used water cannons to disperse the protesters. Later, the police had to use force when the workers regrouped and clashed with the personnel.
Four activists, including Youth Congress State president Dean Kuriakose were injured. The others injured were organisation State secretaries Pratheesh and Prasad and Attingal constituency president Girikrishnan. They were admitted to Government Medical College Hospital here.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala condemned the incident. He demanded a probe into the alleged police brutality against the activists.
Meanwhile, former KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran accused the CPI(M) of succumbing to the influence of Mr. Chandy and his money power. In a Facebook post, Mr. Sudheeran said CPI(M) had lost its moral and political will to ask Mr. Chandy to put in his resignation papers.
