VSDP's Secretariat March Turns Violent; Two Arrested

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tension prevailed at Statue Junction here on Friday, after the Secretariat march taken out by the activists of community outfit Vaikunta Swami Dharma Pracharanasabha (VSDP), demanding reservation for the Nadar community, irrespective of religion, turned violent.

It was their sixth day of protest. Some of the VSDP workers tried to barge into the Secretariat premises. Two persons were arrested in this connection by the Cantonment police.

The police identified the accused as Linto, 24, and Deepu, 24. Both are natives of Athiyannoor near Balaramapuram.

Case was registered against around hundred protesters and they were let off on bail later. The Cantonment SI and a few workers were injured in the violence.

The trouble erupted when the protesters tried to push the police barricades after the march, which reached the main gate of the Secretariat, around 11.20 am. Though the police initially showed restraint, they resorted to water cannons to disperse the protesters. Some of the workers tried to barge into the premises, which provoked the police and the latter resorted to lathicharge. Following that, the workers hurled plastic chairs at the police. When the police resisted the move, the demonstrators reportedly attacked the police personnel and around three workers climbed up a tree in front of the Secretariat, threatening to commit suicide. It took around 30 minutes to disperse and arrest the workers.  Normalcy was restored after DCP G Sivavikram held talks with VSDP leader Vishnupuram Chandra Sekharan.

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