- By Abhirupa Kundu
- Sat, 23 Dec 2023 01:47 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Congress workers and supporters on Friday held a protest march heading towards the Kerala DGP office here on Saturday. The demonstration took a violent turn as agitators resorted to hurling stones at the police following which water cannons were used to disperse the crowd. The march was organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
The protest was being held against the alleged police atrocities against the Committee's workers during their agitation against the ongoing "Nava Kerala Sadas" outreach programme of the ruling Left government.
#WATCH | Police use water cannon to disperse Congress workers in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram protesting against alleged police action on Youth Congress workers during a protest demonstration pic.twitter.com/s1gEZLTaWo
— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2023
Senior leaders including KPCC chief K Sudhakaran, Leader of Opposition in the assembly V D Satheesan and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala were present on the makeshift stage near the DGP office when the police used tear gas and water cannons.
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Dismissing claims of provocation by the police, Congress MP Sashi Tharoor said, "It was a shocking experience today... I was personally a witness to the brazenness of their contempt for democracy and human rights. There was a very peaceful protest going on... Suddenly without any provocation, a tear gas shell explodes just behind the stage and a water canon is fired... We don't understand why, there's been no provocation at all, and no warning has been issued... I immediately called the DGP and protested in the strongest language... It was a criminal act... This happened without any provocation, without any warning... Kerala is witnessing the rule of the lawless who have been given full freedom to assault the law-abiding... I'm also going to take it up with the Speaker of the Parliament because the parliamentary privileges of half a dozen MPs on the stage were violated.,"
Sudhakaran and Chennithala were visibly affected by the tear gas used by the police and was assisted by the Congress workers to an available car nearby.
As soon as Sudhakaran concluded his speech, the party men started climbing the barricades erected near the DGP office and attempted to force their way past the security cordon.
The water cannon was used while Satheesan was addressing the cadres. The meeting ended abruptly.
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