Kochi: Protesting against the filing of a case under the non-bailable section against the Youth Congress workers who waved black flags against the Chief Minister, the Congress blockade at Palarivattam Police Station and Junction lasted till two in the morning. Finally, at 1.55 am today, the strike ended at 2 am when the activists got bail. The blockade lasted for more than six hours when the police showed reluctance to reach a consensus.
The siege lasted till two o’clock in the morning. As the protest became heavy, the police produced the arrested persons before the magistrate after medical examination. After the activists got bail, people including the people’s representatives ended the siege of the police station.
Hibi Eden MP, MLAs TJ Vinod, Uma Thomas, Anwar Sadat, DCC President Mohammad Shias, Deepti Mary Varghese, Abdul Muttalib, Raju P. Nair, VK Minimol, Abin Varki and others protested at the entrance of the station. On hearing the incident, more activists came and blocked the road at Palarivattam Junction. Traffic was also disrupted for two hours. KSRTC buses were also stuck on the road. Meanwhile, there was an altercation and conflict between the passengers and the protesters who were caught in the traffic jam.
Seven activists were taken into custody by the police for showing the black flag. The Congress alleged that they were initially going to be released on bail, but when the leaders of the CPM reached the station, a new FIR was registered and the case was registered. With this, the blockade started demanding the release of the activists. While people including people’s representatives were protesting, the activists tried to push inside the station after the SI threatened to beat them up if they did not disperse. This caused a small conflict. Activists also burnt the chief minister’s effigy in front of the station.
ACP P. Rajkumar reached the spot and spoke to the protestors but was not ready to end the protest. The protesters are demanding that the city police commissioner and DCP reach the spot. The leaders alleged that the SHO registered a new case when he came to the station with the sureties as the police informed him that bail would be granted. DCC President Muhammad Shias said that a new case was registered against the workers after talking to the SHO including the CPM Area Secretary who arrived at the station and returned after threatening the Youth Congress workers. The police became defensive as the leaders and activists stood firm on the position that the blockade of the station would be ended only after the workers were released on bail.
Meanwhile, the ACP said that the black flag protesters grabbed the police officer on duty and crossed the CM’s convoy and only because the pilot vehicle stopped suddenly, the accident was averted. The police also got clarity about the incident when the footage of the protest was aired on the channels. Rajkumar also said that this is the reason for filing a case under a new department. Hibi Eden MP said after the sanctions were eased that the activists were granted bail. DCC president also stated that this strike is a warning to the government.
English Summary:
Youth congress members arrested for black flag protest against chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan released on bail
2024-01-01 21:06:08
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