The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Hartal call after attack on shops in Kumarapuram

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Monday, Feb 25, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Hartal call after attack on shops in Kumarapuram

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: Two persons armed with swords went on the rampage at Kumarapuram on Sunday evening and attacked four commercial establishments, including a medicine store, at Poonthi road. No one was injured in the attack. The incident occurred at around 5 p.m. The youth threatened pedestrians and motorists. Local traders and residents have called for a hartal in the Kumarapuram area on Monday to protest against the gangland violence.

The police said the youth were from the nearby Chennilode colony. Circle Inspector V. Suresh Kumar said the youth attacked the medicine store because the medicine store saleswoman denied them a syringe for intravenously injecting heroin.

A local trader said that a Chennilode colony-based armed gang was posing a serious threat to public peace in the area. He said the gang had the backing of some local politicians owing allegiance to a major constituent of the ruling front.

According to him the gang members thrived on extortion and sale of drugs. In 2007, the gang members attacked a police party at Chennilode. The then Circle Inspector, Medical College, was injured in the armed attack.

The Commissioner of Police Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar visited the spot and talked to local traders.

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