Many including women arrested for protesting against laying of stones for K Rail at Kallayi in Kozhikode, V Muraleedharan terms police action as barbaric

KOZHIKODE: Union Minister V Muraleedharan said the centre has so far not given their approval for the SilverLine project. He said permission was given only to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and that the chief minister is misleading the people. The incident that happened in Changanassery was barbaric and the action taken by the police against the women was insulting, he said.

Widespread protests were held against the laying of survey stones for SilverLine today also. A protest march was staged as part of the hartal against the action of the police at Madappally in Changanassery. A clash broke out when the police tried to prevent the march. Protests are being staged at Kallayi in Kozhikode. The locals blocked the way shouting slogans. Though the officials tried to calm them, it failed. With this, a large contingent of police reached the spot and arrested all the protestors including women. They were arrested for stopping the official who came to lay the stones.

Meantime, E Sreedharan responded that the SilverLine was the worst project and it could destroy the country's economy. Border walls will divide Kerala. He alleged that not even half of the land to be acquired has been calculated.

Opposition leader V D Satheesan who strongly criticised the K Rail project, accused the government for taking an anti-women stance. Satheesan boycotted the assembly today and has now reached Madappally. Satheesan had asserted that the agitation would be intensified after holding talks with the women and children attacked yesterday. The opposition leader also blamed the chief minister for being arrogant of power. He said that the chief minister has no eyes to see the truth and is blinded by arrogance.