Changanassery, First Published Mar 18, 2022, 6:16 AM IST
Kottayam: A hartal was held in Changanassery constituency today to protest against the police action taken during the agitation against K Rail. The hartal is from 6 am to 6 pm. The hartal was called by the K Rail Joint Strike Committee. The Samyuktha Samara Samithi consists of the UDF, BJP and other organizations.
The strikers have said they will not block vehicles. Debt markets will be closed. Samyuktha Samara Samithi will hold a demonstration in Changanassery city at 10 am. The strike committee said that demonstrations would be held at the local level as well. A protest meeting will be held at Madappally at 12 noon. Heavy police warm-up has been arranged in the wake of the problems in Madappally
Kottayam Madappally Mundukuzhi The protest of the locals against the stone laying of the K rail led to the clash with the police. There was police force against the natives. The women were dragged away by the police. The police were arrested and removed the former column of the struggle. Twenty-three people were arrested, including four women. Police said he was arrested for pouring kerosene on police. According to the police, the child was also used in the strike. Joseph M Puthussery and Mini K Philip were also arrested.
The human chain has been protesting here since morning. Protesters smashed the glass of a vehicle carrying stones. Locals blocked the road. The protesters alleged that the stoning procedure was not followed. There was a huge protest on the part of the locals in Mundukuzhi. The vehicle that came with the stone then had to go back. Throughout the human chain, the natives protested and shouted at the workers. The protesters said they would commit mass suicide. There were protests by raising kerosene.
The vehicle then returned with the K rail sign stone. Heavy police warmth was in place. K Rail officials also rushed to the spot and escorted the police to the spot. Police gave protesters protesters. However, the locals refused to leave and shouted back at the workers. This was followed by a confrontation between the protesters and the police. No conciliatory efforts by the police were in vain. The struggle demanded to follow the police from protests. This led to the use of force.
The women protested very emotionally with kerosene in their hands. Police demanded that the kerosene be removed and that the children be removed from the protest site. However, the protesters were not ready for this. With this, the women police forcibly removed such people. Eventually, despite protests from locals, Udyogasthar laid the foundation stone of the K Rail Survey under police protection.
The Silver Line will pass through 16 panchayats in the district. The project will affect 14 villages. The protest was jointly organized by various political parties. UDF leaders including Joseph M Puthussery had reached the spot. The BJP also has a strong presence in the protests. The BJP is organizing a protection march in Kottayam district on the 24th of this month with the participation of state president K Surendran.
Of the 23 people arrested, three were initially unwilling to be released by police. With this, the protest reached in front of the Thrikkodithanam police station. The K Rail Struggle Committee and locals BJP activists blocked the police station, decided to release three people away. The protesters, who left the station, told Asianet News that they were not activists of any political party and were trying to protect their homes and land, which they had suffered all their lives.
Not only Pinarayi but I also have dreams – activists say …
The protest of the locals against the stone laying of the K rail in Kottayam Madappally led to a big clash. Protesters say the strike is aimed at protecting the bed, which has been suffering for a long time. The words of Gigi Philip, who was arrested during the strike ..
Initially, it was reported that K Rail was stoned at another location. The officials came here (Madappally) to stone us by deceiving us. She came to the protest with her husband and baby. Kerosene was in hand. But the kerosene was not spilled as alleged by the police. But I was told that if I put stones in my house, I would pour kerosene.
“I fell to the ground during the protest and was dragged away by the police. There are injuries on the body. I will lose two of my houses when the K train arrives. The shop that made the loan will also be lost. I want my house, if Pinarayi has a dream I have a dream too. I have to make my dream come true just like Pinarayi’s dream. I do not want compensation for those who lose their homes and land. ” Gigi said the decision was made to prevent officials from reaching the stoning.
Last Updated Mar 18, 2022, 6:46 AM IST
