Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod
Kasargod, Jan 2: Violence erupted near Cheemeni here on Tuesday January 2 after stones were pelted, allegedly by CPI(M) workers, at a rally organized by BJP district committee. The police had to use tear gas to control the situation.
Over 15 persons were injured in the violence. A bus was also damaged.
The BJP district committee led by its district president K Srikanth held a rally from Chervathur to Cheemeni over the recent incidents of violence and intolerance, especially against BJP workers in the state, which it said were backed by the Kerala government ruled by the CPI(M). A convention was held at Cheemeni, which was inaugurated by BJP state president K P Shreeshan.
On December 21, clashes had erupted at a convention for backward classes organized by BJP Yuva Morcha. Condemning this incident in particular, the BJP leaders and workers organized the rally on the national highway on Tuesday.
A short while after the padayatra began, when the rally reached Cheemeni, stones were pelted at the protestors and clashes erupted between BJP and CPI(M) workers.
The police resorted to lathi charge but as the situation turned worse, they used tear gas on the mob.
Several people were injured in the clashes. BJP Yuva Morcha Kanhangad president Sheejith (32) and four others were admitted to hospital.
Also, when the BJP workers were returning from the convention later in the evening, stones were pelted on their bus.
The BJP workers then blocked the national highway in protest, which led to verbal clash between the BJP workers and the police.
Thereafter, the police arrested BJP state secretary K Surendran, Walson Thillangeri and others. Angered by the development, the BJP workers gheraoed the police station demanding their leaders' release.
As tension prevailed in the area, the police beefed up the security.
Hartal
The district BJP has called for a hartal on Tuesday January 3 in protest against the stone-pelting and arrest of its leaders.
The strike will begin at 6 am. Emergency services and essential commodities will be exempt from the strike, so also vehicles carrying Ayyappa devotees.