ALAPPUZHA: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) march to the District Collectorate here on Thursday, demanding withdrawal of the controversial Class VII social science textbook, ended in violence. Four policemen and two BJP activists were injured in the stone-pelting and lathi-charge that ensued.
The march, which began at 11.30 a.m. from the Mullackal Junction, was stopped by the police from entering the District Education Officer’s (DEO) office compound.
But with no adequate policemen or barricades in place, the agitators barged into the office compound, forcing the policemen to lathi-charge.
The agitators retaliated by pelting stones at them. While one policeman, Jayamohan, sustained injuries on his forehead, another policeman, Satheesh, suffered from a deep cut under his right eye. The situation was brought under control with the intervention of senior police officials and the BJP’s district leadership.
BJP State secretary P.M. Velayudhan then inaugurated a dharna staged by the agitators in front of the DEO’s Office. The police later arrested 10 persons in connection with the incident. They were later let off on bail.