THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Poojapura BJP area committee secretary Murali, seriously injured in police action, is in ICU at a private hospital, triggering tension. This has been the fallout of police-student skirmish over Law Academy issue in the city on Tuesday. At least 25 BJP activists, including State general secretary K. Surendran were injured in police lathicharge in front of Law Academy Law College here. The police used force to disperse the BJP activists who had turned violent during their demonstration.
The agitators blocked the main road in front of Academy as the news spread about Principal Lekshmi Nair's refusal to resign. Officers under DCP Arul R.B Krishna arrived at the spot and requested leaders to ask the party workers to lift the blockade at around 1.30 pm. With the BJP leaders not heeding to the police appeal, water cannons were used to disperse the protestors. But with workers refusing to budge, the police resorted to lathicharge in which Surendran and state secretary V.V Rajesh sustained injuries.
Many local leaders including R.S Rajeev, Poonkulam Satheesh, Advocate Sudheer and Ajikumar Poojapura were also injured in the incident. They were admitted to various hospitals. Peroorkada police registered a case against 100 identifiable men for rioting. The BJP declared a hartal in Thiruvananthapuram district from 6 am to 6pm on Wednesday to protest against police acti-on. The Samyukta Samara Samithi has also called for a state wide boycott of classes in educational institutions across the state.
