Ten persons including seven women and a sub inspector were injured when angry residents of Vilappilsala fought pitched battles with the police to prevent the city corporation garbage trucks from reaching the solid waste management plant on Monday.

The police lobbed tear gas shells and also used mild force to chase away the thousands-strong agitators who pelted stones on police vehicles.

After a series of clashes with the local residents and several unsuccessful attempts to clear the route for the trucks, the police called off its action even as the garbage trucks returned to the city.

In view of the tense situation, the district administration clamped section 144 in the entire village to prevent incidents. “We decided to suspend police action because of the violent response of the residents.

But we will continue to make efforts to send garbage vehicles to the plant. We have no option but to implement the order,”

“We have no option but to implement the high court order,” said additional district magistrate Girija P.K.
Trouble began soon after garbage trucks of the city corporation arrived in Vilappilsala. The district administration had made heavy police bandobast to resume the functioning of the plant as directed by the high court.

However equally determined residents including a large number women and children squatted on the roads blocking the onward movement of the trucks.

Women police personnel had a tough time removing the agitators from the area.

Earlier in the morning, the riot police faced a massive blockade at the Vilappilsala temple junction.
Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from the area even as mobs targeted vehicles of both the media and the cops.

The police personal took into custody many agitators including Vilappilsala Panchayat President Sobhana Kumari.

The arrested agitators were lodged at the Vilappilsala government school for a couple of hours before being let off.