THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A youth holding a gun protested at Venganoor village office following the disruption of drinking water. Murukan (33), a native of Amaravila, came to the village office with a pellet gun. The youth, who came with the complaint of not getting drinking water, threatened the employees with a gun. He then put the employees inside and locked the office from outside.

The youth came to the office with a gun at around 11 in the morning. His complaint was that they were not getting water from the canal. He was also carrying a placard with the slogan ‘shut down the panchayat that does not release water’. Murukan said the farmers are facing a lot of difficulties as the canal water is not reaching the Venganoor panchayat. Murukan, who came to protest then locked the gate of the mini civil station office. With this, the police arrived and seized the gun from him and released the employees’ held hostage. The police later took him into custody.