Kerala: Agitators smell urine at protest

KOCHI: The protest over setting up of a retail liquor outlet of Kerala State Co-operative Consumers Federation Ltd (Consumerfed) at Chettichira near Ponnurunni led to a skirmish on Thursday amidst allegations that Consumerfed staff sprinkled urine on protesters including Ernakulam MLA Hibi Eden. The large contingent of police posted outside the outlet separated the protesters and staff before senior officials led by city police commissioner M.P. Dinesh and DCP G.H. Yathish Chandra reached the place and pacified the agitators. The protester on a sit-in including Mr Eden were arrested and shifted from the scene.

The agitation had begun from Tuesday as the outlet operating at Vytilla junction was shifted to Chettichira following a Supreme Court order to relocate liquor outlets operating along the national and state highways. Local residents under Janakeeya Samara Samiti objected to the outlet in their area demanding the shifting of the same stating that a liquor outlet in a residential area would affect peace and tranquility. The samiti also said an anganwadi and a primary health centre for women was located within a 50 metre radius of the outlet.

Blaming Consumerfed staff for the trouble, Mr Eden said he went there on request by some of his friends living in an apartment in the area. “I was trying to reason with the staff to stop operations, but they were not ready to listen,” he said. The staff members of the outlet, however, said that it wasn’t urine, but a pungent liquid like varnish used in construction works which was spilled over the place when Youth Congress activists tried to barge into the outlet. Police said they will probe into the charges. Commissioner Dinesh said the police will probe into the allegation of throwing urine at the protestors.   Consumerfed chairman A. Mahboob alleged the participation of Eden in an agitation in a place outside his constituency is part of a conspiracy.