A group of All India Youth Federation (AIYF) activists smashed up the newly furnished customer care centre of the BSNL at Chinnakada in the heart of the city on Saturday afternoon during a protest against the petrol price hike. BSNL sources said that the customer care centre has been completely destroyed in the attack and will have to be refurnished.
Police said that the AIYF activists came incognito from M.N. Smarakam, the district headquarters of the Communist Party of India situated across the customer care centre. A couple of them had iron rods wrapped in newspapers. They barged into the centre and began smashing up the glass panes.
A good number of customers present there at that time ran out. The AIYF activists then smashed up the counters, computers and even the steel chairs placed for customers. The attacked that began soon after 1 p.m. lasted for about five minutes. Before the police could arrive the AIYF activists left the scene and went back to the party office.
A huge police posse soon arrived at the scene and took control of the situation. Police have strengthened vigil around the CPI office. Police sources said that there are “orders from above” that the AIYF activists responsible for the attack should be arrested and remanded.
