Thiruvananthapuram: DYFI activists vandalised resort under construction in the tourism hotspot of Papanasam in Varkala, following an LDF-UDF tiff over clearing the project.
Both had jointly called a hartal in Varkala Municipality on Thursday alleging that their members were attacked during a council meeting the other day after the issue of illegal construction was raised. Meanwhile, the municipality authorities maintained that it had issued a stop memo.
The DYFI activists vandalised the resort ‘Black Beach’ alleging that it lacked permit from the municipality and that it had encroached on the seawall at Thiruvambadi area.
Varkala police later arrested the activists who completely smashed it.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed after DYFI activists tried to force close an SBI branch in Varkala as part of the hartal and the police intervened to arrest the protesters. “The municipality has not given any permit for such illegal construction at the beach. The works had already started by the time we got complaints regarding this. We had issued stop memo several times, but they continued construction works during night time and on holidays. We have given a letter to the police and will move on with prosecution procedures,” Bindu Haridas, municipal chairperson, told DC.
Unprecedented events took place on Wednesday when councillors from both fronts entered into a verbal brawl which later led to physical assaults.
Before starting routine discussions on the agenda, Ms Haridas had presented an emergency resolution condemning the act by opposition councillor S. Prasad who allegedly showered verbal abuse on employees including women inside the municipal office on June 28.
Another resolution demanded the prevention of illegal resort constructions. While the chairperson was answering questions after the discussion, Congress and BJP councillors protested before her dais. The LDF members joined the melee, which eventually led to physical assaults on councillors including the chairperson.
