THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC President K Sudhakaran condemned the deliberate use of tear gas by the police during a recent protest march towards the DGP office. Sudhakaran highlighted the danger posed by the indiscriminate firing of tear gas shells in close proximity to the speaking stage where leaders like Satheesan were addressing the crowd.

"The water cannon was fired when Satheesan started to speak followed by tear gas," Sudhakaran said. "The space near the stage being compact and filled with people could have led to serious consequences if the tear gas shell underneath the stage had exploded."

Several Congress leaders including Sudhakaran, Shashi Tharoor and Muralidharan experienced difficulty in breathing after the tear gas attack. KPCC General Secretary Alipatta Jamila fell unconscious and had to be transferred to a hospital. Sudhakaran himself required nebulization treatment to ease breathing discomfort and remained in the hospital until feeling better.

Expressing concern over the situation, Sudhakaran mentioned previous attempts on his life allegedly orchestrated by CPM. He recounted three instances including the destruction of three ambassador cars and a bomb attack while unveiling Rajiv Gandhi's stupa in Vellarvalli, Peravoor which left him hospitalized for 38 days.