Senior Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Annie Raja has demanded the suspension of Deputy Commissioner of Police Yatish Chandra for the alleged atrocities unleashed against protesters, including women and children, who participated in the protest held against the setting up of a LPG terminal at the densely populated Puthuvype.
She was talking after inaugurating a day-long protest programme against police atrocities organised by the People’s Protest Committee against LPG Terminal at High Court Junction on Monday.
Ms. Raja described the protest at Puthuvype as one for survival, which was met with police excesses. Actions of the Kerala Police were improper for a civilised society. The way in which the police dealt with women and children was unacceptable, she said.
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Public protests across the country were being dealt with in a similar manner. The State government should look into the actions of the police. Ms. Raja asked the State government not to follow the model of governments in North India, which suppressed protests by stamping protesters as Maoists.
The State government should take immediate action against Rural SP A.V. George who allegedly gave the order for beating up protesters at Puthuvype and Mr. Chandra who led the alleged assault against protesters at High Court Junction. Ms. Raja said that the then Police Chief, T.P. Sen Kumar, had attempted to appease the government by justifying police atrocities. She also asked the Women’s Commission to register cases against police officers who beat up women and children.
Protest committee chairman M.B. Jayaghosh presided. Hibi Eden, MLA, Revolutionary Marxist Party leader K.K. Rema, tribal leader C.K. Janu and Aam Aadmi Party leader C.R. Neelakantan spoke.
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