Stone pelting, lathi charge, tear gas shelling, molotov cocktails… Kerala saw widespread violence on Thursday across several districts, as the Sabarimala Karma Samithi called for a dawn to dusk hartal protesting the entry of two women into the temple on Wednesday. Shops were shut across the state – some voluntarily and others forcefully. Groups including CPI, CPI (M), SNDP, BJP, DYFI, Sabarimala Karma Samithi etc clashed in several parts of the state.
The state of Kerala has been consistently making news in the past few months due to the intense debate over the Sabarimala issue, and much opposition against women’s entry into the temple. Tension intensified further when on Wednesday, Kerala woke up to the news of two women under the age of 50 having entered Sabarimala and offered prayers. Registering its protest, Sabarimala Karma Samithi had called for a state-wide hartal against the women’s entry into the temple on Thursday. While the hartal started out peacefully, as the day progressed, there were several incidents of violent clashes, stone pelting and vandalism across the state.
Several people were injured in the attacks, including the Palakkad Superintendent of Police Pathanamthitta T Narayanan. Police personnel tried to prevent and disperse DYFI, BJP, SNDP, CPI(M) and Sabarimala Karma Samithi members who were clashing in various places in Kerala.
Palakkad district saw widespread protests. DYFI and CPI (M) members clashed with BJP and Sabarimala Karma Samithi in front of the Government Victoria College Hostel. Members of Samithi were walking on the road to the College when CPI (M) and DYFI workers who were in the CPI(M) office, started throwing stones at them. After massive stone pelting which continued for several hours, the police was unable to bring the violence under control. Tear gas was used to disperse the crowds.
During the melee, some of the protesters had entered Government Victoria College where more stone pelting took place. Police and protesters continued to clash, both inside and outside the college. Meanwhile, some of the protesters separated from these groups and went to the CPI office, and vandalised it.
CPI and CPI(M) offices in various districts have come under attack in the state. There have been several stone pelting incidents around the party offices, and martyr statues of the two parties have also been destroyed in these attacks.
As a result of the violence in Palakkad, the CPI office which is behind the Victoria College was attacked and vandalised. The college hostel was also targeted by the protesters and property was destroyed. The vehicles parked on that road were also damaged in the altercations.
In Thiruvananthapuram, protests turned violent in many areas including the secretariat, Malayinkeezhu and Nedumangad. During the standoff between BJP and CPI(M) at the latter, protesters threw three bombs at the police station there.
In Kasaragod, former councillor and BJP member Ganesh Parakata was stabbed when he was on a bike. In Thrissur, the SNDP threw stones when members of the BJP reached the location, and violence ensued. In the clashes, three BJP measures — Sujith, Sreejith and Rathish — were stabbed in Ganeshamangalam, and have been admitted to Thrissur Ashwini Hospital.