No respite even after blanket ban on anything black, black flags and protests against CM from Malappuram to Kozhikode

MALAPPURAM: Despite the massive security beefed up and the deployment of more than 500 policemen, there were widespread protests and black flags against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan throughout. The protests were staged from Malappuram to Kozhikode.

Congress-Muslim League activists at Kooriyad in Malappuram, Youth League activists in Kottakal, Congress workers in Malappuram Puthanathani and Kakkad, Yuva Morcha activists in Kozhikode Pantheerankavu Kodal Nadakavil and BJP workers in Kunnamkulam hurled black flags at the chief minister this morning.

Black flags were shown to the chief minister, who was on his way to Malappuram from Thrissur, for the inauguration of Tavanur Central Jail near Kunnamkulam Bathany School. Four people were arrested.

The Youth Congress and the Youth League staged protests against the chief minister when he reached Tavanur. The protests were outside the venue of the inaugural function. A clash broke out when the activists who protested and showed black flags, were tried to prevent using water cannons. The police blocked the protesters using barricade. In the meanwhile, the police arrested and removed some people who entered through the barricade.

Like yesterday, the police removed the black masks of the people. Instead yellow masks were given. The public were allowed to enter only until an hour before the inauguration. The media was not permitted to take pictures of removing