The activists came to know about the charges when some of them received the summons from the court
KOCHI: The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Ernakulam has slapped cases against 10 ‘Kiss of Love’ activists for preventing government officials from doing their duty and causing injury to them in November last year.
The activists came to know about the charges when some of them received the summons from the court to appear before it on August 6.
“I don’t know the criteria adopted by the police in identifying the 10 persons who took part in the protests as culprits,” said Mr. Nelson who had received the summons.
Jaison Cooper, another in the list, said that he had not received the summons so far. “I think the police have been framing charges against some people deliberately to harass them,” he said.
The filing of cases against the activists is against the views then expressed by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, said Mr Thushar Nirmal Saradhy of Janakeeya Manushya-vakasa Prasthanam.
Mr. Chennithala and senior police officials had then claimed that the activists were taken into preventive custody to save them from attacks by those opposed to the protests, Thushar pointed out.
“The civil society in Kerala should raise its voice to withdraw the case,” he said. Writers like N.S. Madhavan, Paul Zachariah and Satchidanandan have endorsed the protest, he said.
“I hope they will come out against the action of the government,” said Mr Thushar.
