An agitation taken out by activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) at Pala against Finance Minister K.M. Mani for his alleged role in the bar licence bribery case turned violent forcing the police to fire tear-gas shells at the irate mob injuring a dozen persons, including a TV crew member.
The BJYM activists, who were marching to Mr. Mani’s residence at Marangattupilly, were stopped at the Kottaramattom bus stand by the police.
Stone-throwing
However, the overzealous agitators tried to jump on to the barricades and march further.
The police resorted to lath-charge, but the agitators threw stones at the police. Following this, the police resorted to tear-gas firing.
According to the police, four persons were injured in the melee. However, the BJYM activists said 11 of the agitators were injured in the police action.
Meanwhile, the agitators convened a protest march against the police action. Inaugurating the protest march, BJP State unit president V. Muraleedharan said they would not be daunted by police actions and would intensify the agitation against Mr. Mani.
He said democratically organised agitations could not be suppressed by employing brute police force. He called for an inquiry into the police action in which a media person was injured.
