Protest against Corruption

                        UDF-BJP hartal over attack on protest venue- 1-7-2014

KOZHIKODE: 1-7-2014

 UDF  and BJP  have called a hartal in the Kozhikode district on Tuesday to protest against the attack on BJP district president P Raghunath and others at a mass dharna  organized  jointly by the Campaign Committee against Corruption and Nadakkavu Vikasana Samithi at Mananchira here on Monday evening. The hartal that will begin from 6am will end by 4pm in view of fasting in the month of Ramadan.

Emergency services including distribution of newspaper, milk, medical shops and hospitals will be exempted from the hartal. While UDF leaders informed that vehicles will be allowed to ply, BJP activists maintained that they will block vehicles.

The joint mass dharna was organized demanding resignation of CPM councilor  K Sini who had filed a complaint against five members of the campaign committee.   According to Raghunath, around 100 DYFI members led by Varun Bhaskar, son of former mayor  M Bhaskaran  and  DYFI leader Jamsheer  barged into the shamiana erected for the dharna and unleashed violence.  Raghunath said he was addressing the dharna when the attack took place.  The assailants broke the chairs kept inside the shamiana and assaulted Raghunath with the mike stand.  Policemen, who were only in small numbers, could not prevent the DYFI men from unleashing violence. Five persons including Raghunath, K P Vijayakumar, leader of the Campaign Committee against Corruption and P M Premarajan have been admitted to the hospital after the attack.  Police have registered case against identifiable persons in connection with the incident.

The joint dharna was organized after the court issued summons against five members of the campaign committee following a private complaint filed by corporation councillor  K Sini.  She had alleged that that five persons - K P Vijayakumar, convener of the Campaign Committee against Corruption,  Panayamparambil  Lohithakshan, president of the East Nadakkavu Residents Association,  K P Sathyakrishnan, secretary of  Nadakkavu Vikasana Samithi  and Nadakkavu Vikasana samithi executive members Aandodi Anil kumar and  Vatsaraj had tried to molest her.  Though the councillor had earlier filed a complaint at the Nadakkavu police station it was rejected after it was found that the allegation was baseless.  Police have submitted a report in the court against the councillor  under IPC Section 211.  The councillor then filed a private complaint in the court against five members alleging rape.

District Congress Committee president K C Abu said a protest march will be held in the city on Tuesday demanding the arrest of those behind the attack. "By attacking the protesters, the DYFI has proved that there is a truth in the vigilance cases registered against the corporation authorities," he said.