The Hindu : Kerala News : AIYF activists lathicharged

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Sunday, Aug 01, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

AIYF activists lathicharged

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM, JULY 31. The police resorted to a lathicharge at Punalur this afternoon when a group of AIYF activists, led by the Punalur MLA, P.S. Supal, tried to `disrupt and unleash violence' at a function attended by the Health Minister, Kadavoor Sivadasan.

Mr. Supal was arrested by the police and produced in court following which he was let off on bail. The AIYF called a hartal in Punalur today in protest against the police action.

Thirteen AIYF activists were injured in the lathicharge and the condition of one of them, Ajaya Prasad, is reported to be serious. He has been admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. The police have registered a case of rioting against 26 persons including the MLA.

`Protocol' flouted

The Minister arrived at Punalur to inaugurate the new block for the Government Hospital there constructed with aid from the European Commission. In the invitation notice for the inaugural function Mr. Supal's name was missing. He insisted that as per protocol he should preside over the function.

However, the notice showed that the Punalur Municipal chairperson, Sahiba Shahjehan, would preside. The plaque also did not show Mr. Supal's name.

Mr. Supal raised his objection with Mr. Sivadasan and asked the latter not to attend the function. Two days later another invitation notice showing that following the inauguration of the new block,

Mr. Supal would inaugurate an utility service at the hospital was printed and distributed. However, Mr. Supal was not satisfied. Mr. Supal said that when he raised the issue again with the Minister, the latter cited the second notice and said that his grievance had been redressed and that there was no need for any more objections.

Tense situation

The inaugural function was scheduled at 11 a.m. and the Minister arrived at Punalur on time. But the situation there was tense. The Special Branch had also advised the Minister against attending the function.

But the Minister drove to the Punalur Tourist Bungalow and asked for more police at the scene on grounds that since he had arrived in Punalur he was particular about inaugurating the new block.

Reinforcements

Police reinforcements led by the Kollam SP, S. Sreejith, soon arrived at the scene and the Minister came to the venue by 12-45 p.m. Immediately Mr. Supal rushed to the dais, took over the mike and made a lengthy speech admonishing the Minister. The police said that afterwards Mr. Supal threw away the mike, pushed down the stand on which the mike was placed, tapped down the traditional lamp kept for the function and rushed menacingly towards the Minister. The police rushed to the Minister's rescue. Immediately stones were thrown at the dais by a group of AIYF activists who had gathered there. This resulted in the lathicharge. The inaugural function then went ahead and while the Minister was delivering his inaugural address, Mr. Supal went and lay supine in front of the Minister's car for over half-an-hour till the former completed his speech. Mr. Supal did not budge even when the Minister was brought by a police cordon to the car for leaving the venue. It was at this stage that the police arrested Mr. Supal.

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