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Kerala: Youth Congress workers thrashed, party warns of ‘severe consequences’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala’s capital city turned into a political war zone as Youth Congress leaders entered a major confrontation with the police amid allegations of the latter targetting them, on Wednesday.

The youth body of the Congress had embarked on a march to the Kerala Secretariat which eventually led to several police personnel and party workers sustaining multiple injuries. They had congregated to protest against the attacks on the Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) and Youth Congress (IYC) workers, who had opposed the Nava Kerala programmes.

Following the speech of senior Congress leaders, the police tried to disperse the protestors.

However, they did not pay any heed to the officers. Consequently, the police started using water cannons to restrain them. Some of the protestors, including women, were attempting to trespass into the compound.

 

“We won’t bow down to such tactics by the police who are targeting Opposition leaders, mainly Congress. They are also working according to the orders of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Congress party will continue to expose the deeds of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and will stand with the people of the state”, said Akhil G, a senior IYC leader, who was injured at the protest.

The government had directed the police to ensure that the path map of the outreach programme is marked as ‘Red Zone’ as it reaches the capital, disallowing protests in the city.

During the protest, the police started arresting the protestors which eventually led to multiple party workers attempting to block police vehicles. Following which, they damaged the windows of a police bus while vandalising a few police shields. The development led to the police lathi charging the party workers, in which state president Rahul Mamkoottathil was injured as well.

The party’s state leadership has decided to up the ante against police brutality while handling the KSU and Youth Congress workers.

 

Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan warned that its youth wing organisations would now hit back if police action was not taken against those who had attacked the workers in Kannur district. He also demanded the removal of Vijayan’s “criminal” gunman and security officers.
“There is a limit to everything. Till now we have been telling them (YC-KSU activists) to exercise restraint. I am here to change that stance,” said VD Satheeshan, leader of the Opposition.

Satheesan warned that the party would take the law into its hands if the police do not initiate cases against those who beat the protestors up.

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