Thiruvananthapuram: Going against the assurance given to the High Court on November 22, the Latin Catholic Church-led anti-Vizhinjam Port agitators turned more violent today than yesterday, November 26.
A mob this evening attacked Vizhinjam police station and intruded on it. They attacked the policemen and officers. Twenty-five police officers are injured; the conditions of nine policemen and officers are severe. One officer sustained a serious head injury, and another cop’s leg was broken seriously, and he was seen with profuse bleeding. The attackers destroyed the wireless sets in the station. Police lathi-charged the violent agitators and used tear gas twice.
Yesterday the agitators blocked the lorries bringing granites to the port construction site. Then came the pro-port groups to prevent the blockers. Consequently, both factions fought each other. It is reported that nine cases have been registered. According to media reports, FIR says Arch Bishop and other priests met and planned the violent agitations. About 1,500 people took part in the violence. FIR consists of charges against the illegal congregation, destruction of public property, and carrying of lethal weapons.
The agitators attacked media persons and broke their cameras and other paraphernalia.
Electronic media telecast the voice message of a Latin Catholic priest asking the believers to take to the street in large numbers and to ring the church bell if necessary to mobilise the people.
CPM and BJP have been alleging that there is suspected involvement of some foreign hands behind the anti-port agitations. BJP believes that there are sinister designs to block the country’s economic development.
Even though High Court had directed that the agitators should compensate for the loss derived from the public property destruction, CPM supremo and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have not instructed the police to kill the tension and violence. Even though four hours are over since the police station attack, still the police force does not appear to have received any proper order to handle the situation.
Once the construction is over, Vizhinjam Port will be the deepest port in the whole country. It is going to pave the way for mega goods movements. It is close to the sea route to Far Eastern ports. Therefore, the completion of the port construction will be a shot in the arm for the economy of the entire country and Kerala in particular. Adani Group, who had the contract to construct Vizhinjam Port through legitimate procedures, was supposed to hand over the completed port to the authorities in December 2022. But, hardly 60 % work has been completed. And, since the last few months, construction activities have been stopped due to the agitations.
Even though several meetings have taken between the leaders of the agitators and the Kerala ministers, the government failed to convince the other party about the importance of completing the project constructions.
Still, people are congregating in front of the police station. The government’s plan to alleviate the situation during the middle of the night has yet to be determined. Vizhinjam witnesses the worst sort of anarchy.
Hindu Aikya Vedi Working President Valsan Thillankerry visited the injured people, and the area was tense. He said the natives would have to resist the anti-national activities in the name of the anti-port agitation. Unfortunately, government equate the people who stands for the country’s interests and those who stand for anti-national interests. Thillankaerry said the agitators are coming from distant places; they belong to the project area.
BJP president K. Surendran accused the reason for the worst atmosphere in Vizhinjam is due to the blatant failure of the police.
Police has registered cases against more than 50 persons in connection with the anti-Vizhinjam Port agitations. They include Arch-Bishop Thomas J. Netto, Auxiliary Bishop Christudas and Vicar General Eugene Pereira. Charges are criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, unlawful assembly, rioting, deliberately preventing public servants from discharging their official duties, etc.
It is alleged that the protesters were attacking people belonging to non-Christian communities. BJP leader P.K. Krishnadas alleged that the agitators attacked the houses of the pro-port men. He said that the priority of the police should be to suppress violence. Pinarayi Vijayan has proved that his government is the most inefficient regime Kerala has ever seen. What people see in the state is total anarchy. Pinarayi should own the responsibility for this situation and resign immediately as the state’s Home Minister.
