Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Secretariat siege holds up traffic

Thiruvananthapuram: Traffic in the city was held up and office goers delayed for hours after activists of the Schedule Castes/Schedule Tribes Joint Action Council laid siege to the Secretariat from morning to noon demanding distribution of land to tribals and Schedule Castes (SC) families. The activists who staged a sit-in at the three gates of the Secretariat blocked vehicles and pedestrians.

Traffic along the main road from the Spencer Junction to Pulimoodu came to a standstill and side roads were choked with vehicles. Traffic police had a tough time managing the situation.

Secretariat staff were prevented from entering the premises and many of them were subjected to verbal abuse.

Tension prevailed for some time when a fourth group of action council workers tried to block the Cantonment gate at the North of the Secretariat building.

The workers also staged a sit-in at the Spencer Junction. Many office-goers who parked their vehicles at Palayam and walked to their offices, were showered with abuses.

The action council workers continued the dharna till noon.

Leaders of the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha and the Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha addressed the dharna.

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