Kerala - Kozhikode   

Kinaloor row: Congress in the thick of action

Kozhikode: Mahila Congress president Shanimol Usman said she would file a complaint with the National Commission for Women regarding the police lathicharge on protestors, including women, at the KSIDC Industrial Growth Centre at Kinaloor.

Ms. Usman also voiced protest against the Kerala Women's Commission for not taking interest in the issue. “The conspiracy that led to violence outside the Kinaloor industrial park was hatched by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the police force in collusion with the land mafia,” she said.

RTI petition

Kozhikode District Congress Committee (DCC) president K.C. Abu said that the DCC would file a Right to Information (RTI) petition to get details of those who have acquired land in and around Kinaloor.

Mr. Abu said that the Congress would publish this list to prove the influence of land mafia in the road-widening issue.

Other parties

Parties other than the Congress, who have openly professed support for the Kinaloor agitation, too have strengthened their stance on the issue.

The Jana Jagrata Samiti said the District Collector was attempting to mislead the public by stating that in previous meetings everyone had voiced their approval for the road-widening.

The Samiti said that in two meetings they had registered their protests and walked out. On May 11, the Samiti will hold a meeting at Balussery in protest against what it calls “police atrocities on unarmed protestors.”

On May 12, Mr. Sudheeran is slated to address an all-party meeting at Vattoli Bazaar under the aegis of the Samiti.

No backing out

The Solidarity Youth Movement, which Mr. Karim alleged was the dominant force in the protest staged on May 6, said it would not back out from the agitation and would not be deterred by threat of police action.

The BJP is also planning a two-day protest march from Kakkodi to Kinaloor on May 18 and 19, which will be addressed by the State president of the party.

Karim's version

Meanwhile, addressing an explanation meeting at Balussery convened by the Left Democratic Front on Saturday night, Mr. Karim said that religious fundamentalists should not be allowed to have undue say in developmental affairs.

At the meeting, the Minister accepted documents from persons who indicated willingness to surrender their land for the four-lane road.

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