The Hindu : CPI(M) march turns violent in Chathannur

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

CPI(M) march turns violent in Chathannur

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM MARCH 3. Twelve CPI(M) cadres and five policemen were hospitalised following injuries sustained in the violence that broke out during the CPI(M) march to the Chathannur Police Circle Inspector's office this morning.

Those injured include the Chathannur Circle Inspector, D. Rajan, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Paravur Municipal Council, K.P. Kurup. The march was organised as part of the CPI(M)'s State-wide call to press for a judicial inquiry into the Muthanga developments.

The Chathannur CI office march, led by the CPI(M) district secretariat member, Thulasidhara Kurup, the DYFI district secretary, K. Sethumadhavan and Mr. Kurup, began from the Chathannur junction. The demonstrators were blocked ahead of the CI's office by a strong police cordon.

The police resorted to lathicharge when the demonstrators made an attempt to break the police cordon and rush to the police station. Mr. Kurup, who was injured in the melee was immediately rushed to a private hospital at Kottiyam. The demonstrators also reportedly indulged in stone-pelting.

Inaugurating the meeting, Mr. Thulasidhara Kurup called for a hartal at Chathannur in protest against the "unprovoked lathi charge''.

Later, the CPI(M) cadres marched to Chathannur junction raising slogans against the police and demanding that shops down shutters. Two KSRTC buses were stoned by the agitators. A police posse from the Kollam Armed Reserve Camp arrived at Chathannur Junction and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd.

The police took 13 CPI(M) activists into custody in connection with the violence. They include Mr. Thulasidhara Kurup, Mr. Sethumadhavan, the Ithikara block panchayat president, S. Nazarudeen, the Kollam district panchayat member, V. Reghunathan, the Poothakulam grama panchayat committee member, P.V. Sathyan, and the Paravur municipal councillor, Jayalal Unnithan. Police informed that those taken into custody would be produced before the court.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) has condemned the police action. The CPI(M) district committee secretary, K. Rajagopal, said that the police resorted to lathicharge without any provocation. The party activists also held a protest march in the city this evening demanding action against the police officers responsible for the lathicharge.

State-wide protest

Our Special Correspondent adds from Thiruvananthapuram: The State CPI(M) took out marches to Circle Inspector offices across the State today to press for a judicial inquiry into the police firing on Adivasis at Muthanga in Wayanad district.

Meanwhile, the indefinite fast by the CPI(M) legislature party secretary, T.M. Thomas Isaac, continued for the fourth day today.

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