Thiruvananthapuram: Over 3,000 people were charged with unlawful assembly, rioting and criminal conspiracy on Monday in connection with the violent attack on the Vizhinjam police station last night as part of the ongoing protest against the under-construction Adani port.
In the FIR, the police have registered a case against 3,000 identifiable persons, including women and children, for vandalizing the station and injuring police personnel. Around 40 police officers and scores of local residents were reportedly injured in the ensuing violence.
Police said around 3,000 people gathered at the Vizhinjam police station demanding the release of one accused in a case registered on Saturday and other suspects, Leo Stanley, Muthappan, Pushparaj and Shanki, who were detained.
“The mob reached the police station at around 6 pm with iron rods, sticks, stones and bricks and created a hostage situation in the police station… They threatened to set fire to the police station if the accused were not released… They damaged five police vehicles and destroyed office equipment at the police station,” the FIR said.
It further stated that there was a loss of around Rs 85 lakh due to the attack. Sections of IPC including 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (riots), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 447 (criminal trespass) and 353 (assault on public servant) were called.
Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram city police commissioner told the media that the attack on the police station cannot be justified at all. “We had already deployed enough police personnel. People reached the station demanding the release of one person who has been booked under Section 307 of the IPC,” the commissioner said.
The district administration called a general party meeting on Monday to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, the four detainees were released on bail after recording their arrest. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Mr Ajith Kumar, told the media that around 36 policemen were admitted to various hospitals in the city after they were injured in the attack by the mob that vandalized the police station on Sunday .
“A mob gathered at the police station in the evening and demanded the release of several people who were arrested in another case. They vandalized the police station and assaulted the officers. S. I. received an open fracture of the leg. It looks like he was hit by a brick,” Kumar told the media.
The mob targeted the police station with sticks and bricks and attacked police officers after one person was arrested and several others detained in connection with the violent protests on November 26.
Considering the sensitive situation prevailing in the area, the Kerala government has deployed more police personnel from the other districts as well.
The campaigners also attacked the media present at the site. Local channel operator Sherif M John was attacked by the protesters who damaged his camera and grabbed his mobile phone. He was admitted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital.
On Sunday, state police filed an FIR against at least 15 Latino Catholic priests, including Metropolitan Archbishop Thomas J. Neto and Perera, over the violence in Vizhinjam on Saturday. Police then arrested one person and arrested four others. A mob gathered and attacked the police station on Sunday, seeking their release.
Television channels aired visuals of the vandalized Vizhinjam police station and overturned vehicles, including a police van and jeeps. In the Vizhinjam area, security measures have been tightened.
Will recover losses incurred: Kerala govt tells HC
The Kerala High Court was informed by the state government on Monday that steps would be taken to recover the losses suffered by the protesters due to the violent protest and attack over the Vizhinjam sea port incident.
Justice Anu Sivaraman, who was hearing a plea filed by the Adani Group against obstruction and blockade due to protests, said strict action should be taken in the matter.
The court ordered the government to submit a detailed report on the steps taken by it against the violence and posted the matter for further hearing on Friday.
Meanwhile, Adani Group informed the court that trucks carrying construction materials were blocked by the protesters despite court orders.
The court asked the government to take all possible steps to ensure law and order in the region.
The court has repeatedly asked the protesters not to block the road to the port premises and asked the government to remove the shed erected by the agitators as part of their protests.
However, on November 7, the government told the court that it could not demolish the protest tents at the port due to the presence of children, pregnant women and the elderly among the agitators.