Shuhaib murder: Kerala Youth Congress march turns violent, workers clash with police

Thiruvananthapuram witnessed tense scenes on Monday when members of the Youth Congress, protesting the murder of party worker Shuhaib, clashed with the police.

Several Youth Congress workers had taken out a march towards the Secretariat in protest after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's said the Central Bureau of Investigation will not inquire into Shuhaib's murder. 

Shuhaib, a Youth Congress member from Kannur, was killed last week in what is believed to be a case of political killing. As many as five Communist Party of India (Marxist) members have been accused of the crime.  

According to reports, the march turned violent at around 1 pm, when the agitators pelted stones at the police and the Secretariat building. It is also reported that they hurled cans of soda at the police.

The cops, in turn, fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets at the protestors in a bid to control the crowd.

This agitation comes the day the Kerala Assembly convened. The Opposition had raised the demand for a CBI probe into Shuhaib's murder. The government shot down the proposal, saying the investigation is on track; hence, a central agency-led probe is not necessary.

The Assembly soon dissolved to chaos with the Opposition storming the Well of the House in protest.

This was followed by the Youth Congress March.

Meanwhile, the police have taken Youth Congress President Dean Kuriakose and Vice President CR Mahesh into custody. The duo was on a fast outside the Secretariat for a week. The police have shifted them to a nearby hospital.