Youth congress march to assembly ends in clash; water cannon and tear gas fired, one activist seriously injured in grenade attack

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Youth Congress march to Kerala Legislative assembly against backdoor appointments and the protest of violation of oath of office by Mayor Arya Rajendran ended in clash. Following the stone pelting, the police fired water cannon and tear gas. A Youth Congress activist got seriously injured in the grenade attack. He was taken to a private hospital and underwent emergency surgery. Traffic in the city came to a standstill for about an hour.

The march started from Martyrs Column in Palayam at 11 am and the police stopped them with barricades near the assembly. The clashes started when the protesters tried to cross the barricade. Police used water cannon several times. Alleging that the water cannons were used unnecessarily, the protesters clashed with the police. The activists then protested by sitting in front of the barricade. The march was inaugurated by state president Shafi Parampil MLA. After the inauguration, another clash followed. Meanwhile, the grenade thrown by the police fell on the left leg of Vishnu, a native of Neyyatinkara.

As the clash escalated, MLAs PC Vishnunath, Roji M. John, Anwar Sadath, and T Siddique reached the spot and asked the activists to back off. Youth Congress state leaders Jobin Jacob, Binu Chulliyil, Shajeer Nemam, Vinod Kotukal, Arunraj, AG Sarath, Chitradas, Veena, district president Sudhirshah Palode and others led the march.