‘Sympathisers of Maoists’ detained on Independence Day eve

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cantonment police on Friday detained five alleged Maoist sympathisers based on information that they were planning to distribute anti-government pamphlets during Independence day celebrations at the Central Stadium.

The arrest came soon after the members of the cultural organisation named Njattuvela had concluded a signature campaign across the state titled ‘Independence is a lie’ that started from Kasargod on June 1.

The detained men were identified as Prashant, Rasheed, Nithin, Spanesh and Aromal all aged between 25 and 40, hailing from various parts of the state.

“They had been sticking posters all over the city and our sleuths were watching them. Just before Independence day celebrations kicked in, we took them under preventive detention as they were gearing up to distribute anti-government pamphlets here,” said Cantonment CI Anilkumar P. They were held under Section 151 of CrPC and were released by the evening.

According to Njattuvela Joint Sectretary Prashant, they were detained from the Statue hotel, while having food after preparing for a streetplay in front of the secretariat.

“We had no intention of distributing pamphlets. We were protesting the infiltration of police into school campuses and various walks of public life. During our signature campaign we were detained at Kasargod and Kannur. Policemen verbally abused us and confiscated our personal diaries,” Mr Prashant said.

Meanwhile, the police Intelligence Wing said that the Njattuvela was a public relation wing of the CPI Maoist.