Palakkad: Police resorted to lathi-charge against Youth Congress activists who staged a protest demanding minister KT Jaleel’s resignation here on Thursday. Many activists including MLA VT Balram, who inaugurated the protest, were injured in the lathi-charge.
It is reported that police resorted to lathi-charge immediately after the inauguration of the protest. MLA VT Balram was also surrounded and beaten up by police, said reports. VT Balram suffered a head injury and continued to attend the protest while bleeding from his head.
Condemning the police lathi-charge, the MLA demanded an inquiry into the attempt to suppress the protest. He also asked the police to clarify how they got provoked by the Youth Congress protest.
“The police attack cannot not be justified. We demand a strong investigation into the lathi-charge. A policeman kicked on the stomach of a female Youth Congress activist named Shilpa. He should be brought before the law for the heinous act. It was not the women police that brutally attacked the woman activist. Despite being an MLA, I was also manhandled. Many activists were injured. Police should give an explanation on the brutal act,” demanded Balram.
He pointed out that Youth Congress activists did not provoke the police force.
“No policeman was attacked by the protesters. We did not pelt stones at the police. None of the activists provoked the police. Suddenly, the DySP got provoked and lathi-charged the Youth Congress activists who were staging a peaceful protest. One activist suffered a fracture on his arm. Strict action should be taken against this ‘ Police Raj’,” he added.
Meanwhile, MLA Shafi Parambil condemned the lathi-charge on Youth Congress activists as an attack of ‘police goondas’.
“Those who vowed to implement the government order to suppress the protests must notice that such brutal attacks will not stop us from staging protests,” said Shafi Parambil on his Facebook post.
