Backdoor Appointments: Police, Yuva Morcha members clash during march to Secretariat

Kerala Police and ABVP Yuva Morcha members clashed during the latter’s march towards Secretariat today. According to reports, the clash began when Yuva Morcha members tried to move barricades and pelted stones at the police.

The Yuva Morcha took out the march in protest against the LDF government’s backdoor appointment controversy. During the march, few Yuva Morcha members tried moving a barricade while screaming slogans. Witnessing this, the police resorted to using water cannons to disperse the protestors. A few Morcha members were injured in the clashes.

Reportedly, Kerala police resorted to using tear gas, lathi charge and grenades as well. The Morcha members moved away and regrouped. They proceeded to confront the police by chanting slogans for their actions.

On February 10, Yuva Morcha supporters barged into the Secretariat by scaling the fence in solidarity with the protesting PSC rank holders. The PSC rank holders were staging a protest for the past few days demanding extension of the validity of the rank lists for another six months and also to put an end to the regularization of temporary staff.

The activists, which included women, were blocked by the police from entering the Secretariat. Three Yuva Morcha supports who all tried to enter the Secretariat compound were arrested by the police and shifted to the police camp. The activists even tried to block a police vehicle, which resulted in the escalation of tension.