The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : DYFI, BJYM marches turn violent

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 05, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

DYFI, BJYM marches turn violent

Staff Reporter

Students' agitation continues

KOCHI: Monday was a day of protests and marches in the city with the pro-Left students' agitation at the counselling centres for professional courses continuing and workers of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM)throwing stones at a KSRTC bus during their march to the Public Service Commission Office.

The SFI and DYFI workers started their marches to the counselling centre at Thrikkakara Panchayat Community Hall at Kakkanad from Vazhakkala around 11 a.m.

The police blocked the protestors about 1.5 km away from the counselling centre before the Civil Station by putting up barricades. The SFI workers soon dispersed peacefully.

But, the DYFI activists tried to break through the barricades put up by the police. Over 700 DYFI workers squatted on the road as the police blocked the march.

Stones were pelted at the police, who retorted by using water cannons and teargas shells at the agitators. However, the police did not resort to lathi-charge.

Heavy rain that was lashing the city from the morning hampered the protests and the police action.

The protestors soon dispersed. The counselling being held at Thrikkakara went on without disruption.

Activists of the Morcha took out a march to the District PSC Office near Shenoy's Junction in the morning protesting against the decision of the PSC to conduct interviews for filling the vacancies.

The march starting from Kacheripady Junction was inaugurated by BJP district secretary E.N. Purushothaman. It was led by Morcha district president M. Ashish and district general secretary K.S. Unnikrishnan.

A KSRTC Super Fast bus was damaged as stones were pelted at it as the workers were dispersing after the march near Shenoy's Bus Stop.

Two persons, including BJP Njarakkal Mandalam secretary, were taken into custody by the police in connection with the incident.

A case has been charged against them.

The downpour added to the woes of the commuters with vehicles caught in traffic jams forming long queues along the main roads.

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