KOZHIKODE: The protests by the residents of Mukkom against the GAIL pipeline project turned violent on Wednesday with the people clashing with the police which resorted to lathicharge injuring many. The UDF has called for a hartal in Thiruvambady constituency and Kizhuparamba village on Thursday protesting against police atrocities. The violence continued in the night with the protestors pelting stones at the police and destroying vehicles. The protest, which has been on for the last 32 days, became violent after the GAIL authorities resumed construction activities with the support of the police.
Though many of the protesters were arrested, the violence continued after police removed the make-shift shed of the agitators at the venue.
The construction of the GAIL project was stalled in the area for the past 31 days due to the protest of the locals. Janakeeya Samara Samithi chairman Gafoor Karumadan said the protest turned violent when the police applied force to remove the protesters. He alleged the police charged at the protesters without any provocation.
“There were hundreds of policemen. They removed our tents and lathicharged the protesters,” he said. He alleged that the police even man-handled people after barging into their houses.
Tension mounted when a group of locals led by M I Shanavas MP laid seige to Mukkam police station demanding the release of arrested protesters.