THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Massive violence broke out after police took an iron fist approach to stop youth congress workers who came to the secretariat in solidarity with ASHA workers. The clash between police and YC workers on Thursday noon scared off commuters and protesting ASHA workers alike.

Police fired water cannon three times and stopped the activists who rushed towards the South Gate to enter the secretariat premises. Chairs were seen flying in the air after Youth Congress activists tried to aim at police who manhandled them. The Youth Congress workers reached the protest site when BJP leader V Muraleedharan was addressing the ASHA workers.

When YC activists brought down barricades, police used water cannons to thwart them from coming inside the secretariat premises. Many journalists were also caught in the melee. Amid a scuffle with the police, the activists broke the shield of the police and threw it into the secretariat premises. Many of the frightened ASHA workers got up from their seats during this time.

With this, the protesters raised slogans. Amidst the scuffle, a YC activist fainted on the road and was rushed to the general hospital in an auto-rickshaw. Many alleged that the YC activist was pushed down by a female police official.