Police forcibly remove and arrest Valarmathi amidst LPST rank holders hunger  strike

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police arrested and removed S Valarmathi, secretary of the LPST (Lower Primary School Teacher) rankers strike committee, who was protesting in front of the Secretariat. She was shifted to the hospital in an ambulance after her health deteriorated following the hunger strike. The police action took place as the hunger strike, which she began after tonsuring her head, entered its sixth day.

The police had registered a case against the LPST rank holders, who staged a protest in front of the Secretariat. S Valarmathi, secretary of the rank holders' protest committee, is the first accused. A case has also been registered against 50 identified persons. The case was filed for staging a march near the Secretariat's main gate.

The protest has been continuing in front of the Secretariat for the past 116 days. The candidates complain that only a nominal number of appointments have been made even though the validity of the rank list published in May 2025 is nearing its end. The candidates had earlier intensified their protest by symbolically eating grass and soil. Following this, Valarmathi tonsured her head and began an indefinite hunger strike.