MALAPPURAM: A march taken out by workers of the Kerala Students Union (KSU) to the Collectorate here on Thursday turned violent when stopped by the police.
Eight protestors, including district congress secretary Paramban Rasheed, were injured in the lathi-charge. Seven policemen were also injured in the stone throwing. Anticipating trouble by the KSU activists protesting against the government’s education policies, policemen with batons and shields had been posted at the entrance of the Collectorate.
Even before the KSU marchers reached the barricade, stones started flying at the police, who promptly responded with canes. A small group of KSU activists who crossed the barricade was beaten up and the others were chased away. The police fired two tear-gas shells to disperse the agitators.
Apart from Mr. Rasheed, the injured KSU workers included district president A. Aboobacker, Noufal Babu, Hashid Anakkayam, vice-president Siddique Panthavur, V.T. Riyas and Rohit. They were admitted to different hospitals.
The police arrested five KSU workers in connection with the incident. Congress leaders, including A.P. Anil Kumar, MLA, marched to the police station here to release some of the injured students rounded up by the police.
Addressing newsmen later, Congress leader Aryadan Mohammed, MLA, warned that the Congress would respond angrily if such attack on its student wing continued. Mr. Mohammed said that there was nothing new in a lathi-charge, but the one that took place in Malappuram was brutal and vindictive. “Even the arrested students were mercilessly beaten up inside the van. The police did not even spare DCC secretary Paramban Rasheed, who went to help the students already beaten up,” said Mr. Mohanned.
The Congress leader demanded that an investigation be conducted into the incident and the officer responsible be punished.
Congress march
The Congress will take out a march to the District Police Superintendent’s office here on Friday morning to protest against the incident.