Kizhakkambalam violence: 50 arrested so far, charges include attempt to murder

Kizhakkambalam violence
The charred police jeep which was set ablaze by the migrant workers as violence broke out at the labour camp in Kizhakkambalam on Christmas night. Photo: Manorama News

Kizhakkambalam: Fifty arrests have been made so far in connection with the attack on police by migrant labourers working for the Kizhakkambalam-based private company Kitex Garments Limited on Christmas Day. The police had initially taken into custody 156 people in connection with the violence in the labour camp on Saturday night.

Eleven charges, including attempt to murder, have been imposed on the arrested on the basis of the statements from policemen who came under attack.

The investigation is being carried out based on the video footage available in mobile phones and CCTV cameras. The visuals of the main culprit who set a police jeep ablaze has been captured in the camera.

A Special Investigation Team led by Perumbavoor Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Arjun Paliwal are interrogating the workers who are in custody. They were questioned late into the night on Sunday.

The cops are examining their direct and indirect involvement in the mob violence. A case each has been registered in connection with the attack on police personnel and destruction of a police vehicle.

By Sunday the cops had arrested 24 workers. They will be produced in the court on Monday. The arrested persons would be produced before the first-class judicial magistrate court at Kolencherry.

The evidence collection with the 26 remaining will be done on Monday.

The COVID-19 test and other medical tests of the accused are being conducted in various hospitals.

With more arrests expected in the case, the police have urged the collector to put in place elaborate facilities for medical examination. A decision on the matter would be taken on Monday.

Violence broke out at the labour camp in Kizhakkambalam on Christmas night. Five police officers, including Kunnathunadu Police Station House Officer V T Shajan, were injured in violence. They were admitted to Kolenchery Medical College Hospital in the wee hours of Sunday. The clashes erupted in the camp, where labourers of Kitex company were staying, in the middle of the night while Christmas celebration was going on.

A group of inebriated workers set fire to one of the police jeeps at the spot and attacked locals, who were present at the time.

According to the police, they reached the spot soon and a group of inebriated workers attacked them. They also set fire to one of the police jeeps at the spot and attacked locals, who were present at the time. Those who tried to capture the incident on their mobile phones were also beaten by the group.

Kizhakkambalam is on the outskirts of Ernakulam in central Kerala.  

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