THIRUVANANANTHAPURAM: A new breed of protestors who threaten suicide from treetop with various demands is giving a headache to revenue, police and fire and rescue officials.
In the first incident at Vaidyuthi Bhavan around 11.30 am on Tuesday, a youth named Satheesh climbed a tree demanding the creation of new Mazdoor posts.
A large posse of fire and rescue officials rushed to the spot with the newly purchased multi-lakh-rupee air safe cushion.
After much persuasion, the man got down, and the Medical College police, which registered a case, did not arrest him fearing a suicide attempt. Soon after the incident, around 11.45 pm, a coconut tree climber, Sudheer, barged onto the Legislative Assembly premises demanding welfare schemes for climbers.
His demand included a '5 lakh compensation to all climbers dying while on duty. Also, demands were raised to adequately insulate open wires close to coconut trees.
A case was registered against him also for trespassing the high-security zone. Earlier this year, a KSRTC official had threatened suicide. District collector Biju Prabhakar said revenue officials had stopped being party to negotiations with protestors as it had become a trend. It started last year with a section of youth who wanted to be recruitment to India Reserve Battalion.
“Sure, this is a sad trend, but the fire force will continue to prevent any casualty even if such people continue protests in this fashion,” said fire and rescue chief DGP Loknath Behera.
