Clash between youth congress and CPM in school where roof collapsed; activists throw chairs at each other

ALAPPUZHA: A clash broke out at the Karthikapally School where the roof of it had collapsed. The clash was between the activists of youth congress and the CPM. The activists threw chairs at each other. In the melee, a youth congress activist sustained injury. There are reports that journos were manhandled.

Local leaders of the CPM and Congress had asked the media to go out. The CPM activists first tried to remove the media saying that classes are going on. The UDF leaders later came and shouted at the media.

The roof of more than two-century-old tiled building of the Govt UP School near Karthikappally Junction, where about a thousand children study, collapsed Sunday morning. A major accident was averted as it was a holiday.

The Chingoli Grama Panchayat did not issue a fitness certificate for this academic year due to the dilapidated condition of the building. However, the school office was functioning in this building due to space constraints. The students said that some classes were held in the building until three days ago. The accident occurred in the part where children are always present. The children go to the classes at the back through this building.

The locals alleged that the panchayat member and the headmaster, who reached the spot after learning about the accident, removed the benches and desks from the classrooms in the building. Protests have been going on in the school since yesterday.

BJP workers had protested against the Congress-ruled panchayat yesterday. Meanwhile, after the Congress protested by raising the picture of Education Minister Sivankutty, CPM workers came forward shouting slogans against Ramesh Chennithala MLA. A tense situation prevailed in the area for several hours. A large contingent of police arrived and removed the protesters. However, a clash broke out this morning.

‘Classes are being conducted in a temporary system in the auditorium after fitness was not obtained for the building. Classes are not being conducted in the old building. Although the building for 14 classrooms was completed at a cost of Rs 2 crore from KIIFB funds, it has not started functioning as it has no electricity, said -Biju, the head master.