KOCHI: The protest against the eviction of Preetha Shaji and her husband M V Shaji - residents of Pathadipalam, Edappally took a new turn on Tuesday as the police apprehended Preetha Shaji and 36 others minutes before they were to begin a 48-hour protest in front of the Debt Recovery Tribunal at Panampilly Nagar.
The Ernakulam South Police took Preetha and 28 others into custody under Section 151 CrPC (arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences) while the other eight persons were arrested for obstructing the attachment proceedings of the property on July 9 as per the High Court order. The arrested persons will be produced before a Magistrate later. Dramatic scenes unfolded at the police station as the agitators continued to raise slogans against the police action. Later, CPI national leader Annie Raja visited the station and interacted with the protesters. The incident occurred around 11.30 am.
Thrikkakara ACP P P Shams said the protesters were taken into preventive custody in view of their proposed 48-hour demonstration. “About nine of them, wanted in another case registered by Kalamassery Police, were shifted to Kalamassery for further proceedings while the remaining (including Preetha Shaji) were let off by evening,” an officer said. Meanwhile, the police are yet to decide on whether to record Preetha’s arrest in connection with the case registered in the Kalamassery police station.
The move to confiscate the property of Preetha Shaji had triggered a mass protest with the local residents threatening self-immolation on July 9. The police had earlier arrested four persons in the case registered following the self-immolation threats to prevent revenue officers from attaching the property.