Street battles erupt in Kerala

Kochi/ Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP, the Sabarimala Karma Samiti and their supporters unleashed a wave of violence across the state in the wake of two women entering Sabarimala temple in the wee hours of Wednesday. There clashed with the police across the state resulting in injuries to both sides. 

The police restored to baton charges, burst water cannon and fired teargas shells to disperse the violent mobs trying to create road blocks, stone transport buses and indulge in forcible closure of shops and business establishments in several places.  

The fulcrum of violence was before the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram where the BJP and CPM activists indulged in a free-for-all lasting for nearly five hours. 

Members of Sabarimala Karma Samiti protesting against the entry of women into the temple, in Kochi on Wednesday.

The BJP-Sangh Parivar supporters incensed by the opposition mounted by traders and industry against the hartal called by the Sabarimala Karma Samiti on Thursday also vented their ire at shops and business establishments. The BJP activists in the samara pandal before the secretariat clashed with the CPM supporters in the pandal at the other side erected for the two-day national strike on January 8 and 9.

The BJP supporters pelted stones following sloganeering and the CPM workers retaliated even as the police tried to restore order. As the baton charge and water cannon failed to disperse the crowd, the police fired teargas shells. The BJP workers also allegedly assaulted mediapersons covering the violence.

Violent incidents were also reported from Peyad, Kattakkada, Nedumangad, Poojappura and Vilappilsala. 

A tense situation prevailed in Palakkad town for several hours as BJP activists tried to block traffic and force the closure of shops. BJP councillor in Palakkad municipality P. Sabu and many others were injured when police lathicharged the mob. The activists trying to converge before the KSEB inspection bungalow in which Law and culture minister A.K. Balan was residing also heightened the tension in the area. 

The protestors vandalized the taluk office at Mavelikkara while road blocks were erected at Ambalapuzha, Alapuzha and many other places. In Guruvayur, clashes took place at many places and several police officials, including a circle inspector, suffered injuries in stone throwing.

State police chief Loknath Behara directed district SPs to take steps to ensure normal life and maintain law and order in the wake of the hartal called by certain organisations in the state on Thursday. 

The DGP said action would be taken against hartal supporters who try to forcibly shut shops, block vehicles and indulge in violence.  Legal action will be taken against those damaging public property and they would be made to remit the amount commensurate with the damage.