THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tension prevailed at the Government Higher Secondary School at Aryanad on Tuesday after the CPM and BJP workers clashed with each other in front of school students and in the presence of Minister for Ports Ramachandran Kadannappally. The clash took place around 2 pm just before the inauguration a new school block built under the MLA fund of K S Sabarinadhan MLA.
The Aryanad police have registered a case. According to police, the clash occurred following a dispute regarding who to welcome the gathering of the function. As the programme was organised by Sabarinadhan, the welcome address was entrusted to Aryanad panchayat president Shamila Beegum.
However, the CPM activists wanted the ward member to address the function. This created a dispute which led to conflict. The minister had to return soon after the clash erupted in MLA’s car. The activists flung away the tables frightening the school children.
The teachers had a tough time keeping the children away from the spot. Some workers also tried to manhandle media persons and asked them to switch off the camera. However, the situation was brought under the control with the police intervention.
They have been booked under Sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 188, 283 and 332 of the Indian Penal Code, pertaining to various offences including unlawful assembly, rioting, and voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from discharging his duty, an official said. Meanwhile, Sabarinadhan said the clash was unnecessary and it was unfortunate that it occurred in front of school children. The CPM has also called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Aryanad panchayat on Wednesday.