TRIPPUNITHURA/ KOLANCHERY: Twenty-two Youth Congress members were arrested in Trippunithura for waving black flags as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Navakerala bus passed by. Protests erupted in Puthankurish and Kolanchery during the Chief Minister's visit to the Navakerala Sadas in Kunnathunadu. Following the event, transgenders attempted a black flag protest outside the venue led by Anna Raju and Raga Ranjini in support of the Congress resulting in their arrest.
Later in the evening, an office of the Youth Congress near Kolanchery bus stand was vandalized by unidentified individuals. Thirteen people including Congress and Youth Congress leaders were detained in Tripunithura yesterday afternoon. They were released subsequent to the Chief Minister's departure from Tripunithura to Kunnathunath after concluding the Navakerala Sadas.
Initial protests began around 4 pm when the Navakerala bus passed Marad, resulting in the arrest of seven Youth Congress workers. Another black flag demonstration occurred in Kannankulangara, Tripunithura. Police prevented a black flag display by Youth Congress constituency president Jaisal Jabbar in Putankuris leading to arrests.
Tensions escalated between CPM, DYFI workers and Youth Congress members prompting police intervention to prevent conflict resulting in several more arrests. Congress workers led by DCC President Mohammad Shias and Abin Varkey protested at Puthankurish station demanding the release of detainees. The demonstration concluded upon their release on bail by 9 pm.