Alappuzha, Kasaragod: The Youth Congress (YC) continued to protest against the arrest of its newly elected state president, Rahul Mamkoottahil, in various parts of the state. The party workers led marches to government offices in Alappuzha and Kasaragod districts on Monday (January 15).
Mamkottathil was apprehended from his residence in the early hours of January 9 (Tuesday). He was booked for allegedly leading violent attacks during a secretariat march in the last month.
In Kasaragod, the activists held a protest march to the office of the Kanhangad RDO but were stopped by police using barricades. As they tried to bring down the barriers, cops used water cannons to disperse the protesters. However, the agitators withdrew only after bringing down the blockade.
The protest in Alappuzha turned violent following the YC march to the collectorate. Police arrested and removed activists, including YC state vice-president Aritha Babu. Cops used water cannons and then resorted to the lathi charge after protesters pelted them with stones and breached barricades.
Visuals of the protest showed Youth Congress activists, including women, lying injured on the ground following the police lathi charge. The YC district president Praveen suffered head injury. Police personnel were also reportedly hurt in the alleged stone pelting.
Protesters claimed police beat them mercilessly without any provocation. They also alleged that several protesters, who were injured and taken to the Alappuzha South police station, were denied medical treatment. Subsequently, Congress activists, including those who were injured, blocked the road at the General Hospital junction.
When Congress leaders, including DCC president Babu Prasad, reached the spot, a passe of police under the leadership of DYSP Jayaraj was also present. The tussle between police and protesters lasted about two hours, leading to traffic snarl ups.
The case against Rahul Mamkoottathil
The Kerala police have charged Mamkoottathil for assaulting the police, causing grievous physical injury to them, using deadly weapons to cause serious harm, and inflicting bone fractures. These offences carry a punishment of more than 10 years in prison.
In the case, the Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan was the first accused, but he has not yet been arrested. Earlier, 31 Youth Congress workers were arrested in connection with it. A court had rejected Mamkoottathil's bail plea and remanded him to judicial custody.
(With PTI inputs)
