Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

UDF march turns violent; two policemen injured

— Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

ON THE WARPATH: UDF activists scale police barricades during an Assembly march in the city on Tuesday.

Thiruvananthapuram: Two policemen were injured when an Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF)-led march turned violent near the Legislative Assembly complex on Tuesday.

The UDF activists were protesting against the Government’s ‘refusal’ to order an inquiry into the controversial Merchiston Estate-Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) land deal. The violence started at 11.45 a.m. when a section of the protestors threw stones and flag staff at the policemen guarding the approach to the complex.

Sub-Inspector J. Santosh Kumar suffered serious facial injury from a stone that shattered his helmet visor. Circle Inspector A.L. Najmulhassan injured his shoulder.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy arrived on the scene around 12 p.m., causing the violence to abate temporarily. It resumed soon after he left the spot 20 minutes later. The police watched mutely as the protestors attacked private vehicles, including an autorickshaw carrying passengers. They targeted shops and vandalised hoardings.

The police chased and rounded up four protestors near Palayam.

The Janata Dal activists prevented the police from ‘mistakenly’ arresting one of their activists who ventured out of J.P. Bhavan.

Mr. Chandy said the UDF would continue its agitation till the Government ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into land deal.

He said the Government feared such an investigation as it would expose the role of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Forest Minister Benoy Viswom. The Government was allowing private parties to loot the State’s forest land, he said.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala also spoke.

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