BJP protest turns violent in capital

Call for hartal in capital today

The BJP has called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the district on Tuesday in protest against the police action on its workers here on Monday.

In a related development, the police shifted BJP State general secretary A.N. Radhakrishnan to hospital. He was arrested on the eighth day of his hunger strike in front of the Secretariat as his health was deteriorating.

Former State president of the BJP C.K. Padmanabhan replaced Mr. Radhakrishnan, a clear sign that the BJP would escalate its street agitation to arm-twist the government to roll back the alleged police regime and prohibitory orders at Sabarimala.

Exempted

The BJP said it would exempt supply of milk, medicines and delivery of newspapers from the hartal.

Several colleges and schools have postponed tests scheduled on Tuesday.

Law enforcers had fired tear-gas shells and water cannon to drive back BJP activists who attempted to rush the police cordon in front of the Secretariat here.

One injured

At least one woman activist was injured in the skirmish. They threw stones and sticks at the police and wrenched shields and batons from the hands of the anti-riot police.

The BJP fielded women workers in the front, who repeatedly tried to push their way through the police picket line. The police blocked the activists who retreated and staged a sit-in protest on the road. BJP national executive member Sobha Surendran, chanting Ayyappa incantations, led the demonstration. The BJP, incensed by Mr. Radhakrishnan’s failing health and the government’s refusal to engage the party in reconciliatory talks, had called for street protests across the State.

Almost simultaneous marches taken out by the BJP in Kochi and Kottayam also resulted in minor scuffles with the police. The police said stones thrown by BJP workers from the rear of the demonstration had injured a woman activist who was in the forefront of the protest.

Police officers injured

District Police Chief P. Prakash said at least six officers were injured and the protesters had destroyed anti-riot equipment.