A demonstration organized by the Kerala Students Union (KSU) on Wednesday, progressing towards the District Police Chief’s office, concluded with police employing force to disperse the participants. The march, which commenced from Fort Maidan, was conducted to protest alleged police brutality attributed to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
Police used four rounds of water cannon and executed a lathicharge, resulting in minor injuries for several workers. Accounts from the scene include allegations that a woman KSU worker was slapped on the face and dragged by police while resisting arrest. KSU leader Gouja Vijayakumar additionally alleged that a woman police officer held her by her hair and slapped her face, further claiming the officer had engaged in similar actions against KSU workers previously. Police initiated the use of water cannon after protesters sat on the road following the event’s inauguration.
A Congress leader present accused police of specifically targeting Congress, Youth Congress, and KSU workers and criticized the treatment of protesters. KSU district president Nikhil Kannadi presided over the gathering.
Source: www.thehindu.com