Ultra links in Kochi agitation: SP A V George

KOCHI: Adding a new dimension to the ongoing struggle by the natives of Puthuvype against the IOC’s LPG terminal plant there, the police have claimed the  infiltration of extremist elements into the agitation, turning it bloody. Ernakulam Rural SP A.V. George told mediapersons on Monday that the police had  noticed the presence of extremist elements among the protesters and suspected them of instigating the local residents, including women and children, into staging the agitation. CPI district secretary P. Raju, in a statement, asked the rural police chief  to name those having extremist links in the agitation.

The local residents  rejected a request by  district collector Muhammed Y. Safirulla to withdraw the agitation in view of a meeting between the chief minister and the protestors on June 21. “We are yet to receive any intimation in this regard from the government. Hence, the strike will continue,’’ said M.B. Jaya Ghosh, chairman of the Puthuvype LPG Terminal Virudha Janakeeya Samara Samithi. Puthuvype remained peaceful on Monday even as BJP workers staged a march to the project site and the Njarakkal police registered a case against them for unlawful assembly. The hartal called by the UDF was peaceful.

According to the police, 81 persons, including 67 women, who had been booked for arson, were shifted to the Njarakkal police station from the AR police camp on their request. Though the police granted station bail to them, they insisted that they should be produced before a court or taken back to their native places. Following this, police took them to the judicial first class magistrate court at  Njarakkal, which granted them bail with a direction to report whenever required. Meanwhile late night reports said the puthuvypeen agitation leaders have expressed willingness to hold talks following an invite they got from the CM s office.