Black flag protest; clash erupts between DYFI and Yuva Morcha activists in Parassala and Neyyattinkara

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A clash broke out between DYFI and Yuva Morcha activists in Parassala after the Yuva Morcha activists waved black flags against the Nava Kerala Yatra. The incident happened around 8 pm. After the Yuva Morcha activists staged a black flag protest against the ministers, police resorted to lathi-charge and attempted to arrest them. In the meantime, a group of DYFI activists reached the spot and engaged in an altercation with the Yuva Morcha activists. Following this, the two groups clashed against each other using sticks. More Yuva Morcha activists reached the spot accusing the police and DYFI activists of manhandling Yuva Morcha activists.

Police arrested five people who waved black flags against the ministers. The arrested are Yuva Morcha activist Vipin, OBC Morcha District President Manchavilakom Pradeep and three BJP workers. They were shifted to Pozhiyoor station. Although more CPM-DYFI activists reached the spot, the police persuaded them and avoided the possibility of a conflict.

Activists of Youth Congress and Yuva Morcha waved black flags at the Chief Minister's convoy at various places in Neyyattinkara. Youth Congress activists waved a black flag against the convoy when it reached near NIMS Hospital. Mahila Congress workers who were waiting to wave a black flag at the convoy in Balaramapuram were moved to preventive detention by the police. Considering the possibility of conflict in the region, the police also took Congress councillor Gramam Praveen into preventive detention. Praveen, who was taken into custody by the Neyyattinkara police, was shifted to the Poovar station.