The Collectorate premises witnessed tense moments with Youth Congress (YC) activists taking out a protest march towards the agitating employees who were sitting near the garage.
The YC men shouted slogans and pooh-poohed the agitators who retaliated in the same way. The AIYF activists, who came to offer support for the strike, soon joined the war of words.
The situation changed when the DYFI and CITU men also reached the site. Some people, allegedly supporters of pro-UDF unions, pelted stones at the DYFI activists, following which the infuriated DYFI and CITU activists chased down YC workers. The police had to intervene to prevent a violent physical fight. Later, the DYFI workers took out a procession. Meanwhile, Motilal, state secretariat member of the Joint Council, said that pro-UDF unions vitiated the atmosphere by bringing party workers into the collectorate.
Meanwhile, the offices in the civil station wore a deserted look on Friday. In the collector’s office, of the 179 employees, only 74 reported for work. The district authorities said more employees were reporting for work. However, the opposition unions refuted this and accused the authorities of forging statistics.
SFI march turns violent
The Students Federation India and CITU activists took out a protest march towards the Kanayannur Taluk office premises on Friday. They shouted slogans and pulled down flex boards on their way. After spending some time on the taluk office premises, the activists marched towards the Kochi Municipal Corporation office.
They damaged the flag post erected by the Kerala Municipal Staff Association (INTUC). The police intervened before the situation got out of control. Nine activists, all SFI activists from Law College, were arrested and later released on bail.