Sabarimala Temple Row: BJP-Led Protest March Turns Violent; Police Use Water Canons, Tear Gas Shells to Dispurse Mob

Thiruvananthapuram, December 10: Bharatiya Janata Party-led protest march leading to the state secretariat, seeking the Pinarayi Vijayan government to intervene to save the life of AN Radhakrishnan, turned violent on Monday. Radhakrishnan is asking the state government to withdraw prohibitory orders on Sabarimala temple row and is on a hunger strike for the last seven days.

With the protest march turning violent, the police used water cannon and tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, after they started pelting stones on the security forces. Though the protesters disbursed after the police action, they united again as a group against the force used by the police. Later, participating in the protest march, the BJP activists – along with women – laid siege on the road and raised slogans against the police. Sabarimala Temple Row: Kerala Assembly Adjourned Over Protests by Opposition

In the exchange of stones and tear gas shells, along with police, several women too, were injured. Soon after the incident, a massive battalion of the police force has been deployed at the spot to bring the area under control.

Though there is no report on whether AN Radhakrishnan has broken his hunger strike or not, it is speculated that he might be taken to the hospital for a check-up. Following the orders of the Supreme Court, the Left Front government had issued prohibitory orders for protesters near the vicinity of Sabarimala temple.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 10, 2018 04:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).