Police brutality against SDPI march in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Police unleashed violence against Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) leaders and activists who held protest march to the state secretariat. Protest march was organised demanding repeal of sedition charges slapped upon SDPI for waving black flags against Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Scores of activists were seriously injured in police lathi charge, water cannon and tear gas attacks. Several leaders and activists were also arrested. Some of the police personnel were also injured.
The protest march which began from Rakthasakshi mandapam here moved peacefully to the secretariat premise where it was blocked by police. Soon after the speeches of leaders were over and activists started to disperse police attacked them unexpectedly. Police resorted to lathi charge without any provocation.
Police chased the activists who were running helter-skelter and attacked brutally. One car has been caught fire due to the police shelling.
Lots of activists including state leaders were injured. Some people were seen with their heads bleeding profusely in police attack.
Police did not spare even pedestrians who were not among the protesters. They also raided shops and other buildings in the area searching for activists. State treasurer Samkutty Jacob and state council member C G Unni were among arrested by the police.
SDPI leaders protested the police who attacked it activists who marched peacefully to the secretariat. SDPI activists held protest marches throughout the state against police atrocity.
Kerala police had booked 12 activists of SDPI for sedition charges just for waving black flags against him to protest against cyber surveillance over Muslim leaders and journalists by the state police. Kerala government had decided not to probe the allegation which was flayed by various groups and parties.
Though Kozhikode police commissioner G Sparjan Kumar had promised to revoke sedition charge taken against the activists, he failed to keep his word. The promise was made by his in a discussion with SDPI leaders who met him after a during a protest march to his office.
Even the police could not prove the charges in the court while it took bail applications of the arrested activists and they were granted bail in the absence of evidence.
It was during CM’s visit to Kozhikode last month to take part in an official function SDPI activists had showed black flags demanding thorough enquiry into the e mail hacking incident. High ranking officers of the Kerala police had directed the Cyber Cell wing to furnish details regarding the e mails of 258 Muslims including of former Muslim League MP and journalists in the state.
Police who had arrested the activists tortured them in custody. It was alleged that there was some kind of conspiracy from the part of the police to slap sedition charges against the activists.