Clash breaks out after locals protested over soil quarrying, MLA beaten, police tore clothes, say women

ALAPPUZHA: A clash broke out after the locals protested over soil quarrying for the construction of the national highway. The clash broke out when the locals stopped the lorries engaged in collecting soil at Mattapally in Nooranad, Alappuzha. There is also a complaint that Mavelikkara MLA was beaten.

The locals first protested at 4 in the morning. A team led by Mavelikkara MLA M S Arun Kumar later blocked the Punalur-Kayamkulam road at 9 am. When the police tried to arrest them by force, the clash escalated. Hundreds including women besieged the road. The MLA was attacked in between this. Some other protestors also complained that they were also attacked. The women who took part in the protest alleged that the police tore their clothes. The MLA said that the police are collaborating with the soil mafia.

The locals are worried that the drinking water tank will collapse due to continuous soil quarrying. The locals had earlier approached the high court against the quarrying, but to no avail. Hundreds joined the protests and stopped the lorries. The road was besieged under the leadership of the MLA after this. A large contingent of police reached the spot. The locals wanted the police to withdraw from the place. The police then started the process of arresting and removing them from the protest site.