Stopping Minister K M Shaji’s car; Police register suo motu case against Yuva Morcha activists

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have registered a suo motu case against Yuva Morcha activists in the incident of stopping Local Self-Government Minister K M Shaji’s vehicle in the capital city. The Cantonment Police registered the case under non-bailable sections. Although the minister directed that no case should be registered, the police proceeded to register a case suo motu.

The minister, who had left the Secretariat Wednesday evening, was stopped by Yuva Morcha activists at Vanross Junction around 7:15 pm. The minister then got out of his vehicle and boarded an auto. When the protesters stopped that as well, the minister got out and started walking. Following this, the protesters withdrew.

The minister walked about 1.5 kilometres and reached his official residence, Pournami, in Nandavanam, around 8 pm. Minister Shaji did not have a pilot vehicle or escort at that time. This has been assessed as a serious security lapse. The Yuva Morcha's black-flag protests against UDF ministers in the state began after Youth Congress workers showed black flags to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Kerala.

Yuva Morcha activists had stopped Sports Minister O J Janeesh on the road in Neyyattinkara two days back. The minister was returning after attending a private function at Pathamkallu when Yuva Morcha workers intercepted him. The protesters stopped his vehicle near KAL and waved black flags at him. This led to a clash between the BJP and Youth Congress workers.