Anti-GAIL pipeline campaigners on Wednesday resorted to massive protests on the streets of Mukkom after the local police forcefully removed a temporary tent erected by them in the area to campaign for their cause.
The agitating mob blocked rural roads with lighted tyres and threw stones at police vehicles. Tension prevailed in the area as the police resorted to a lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
Ten activists were taken into custody on charges of attacking the police and their vehicles. In the unexpected clash, a police officer suffered minor injury.
Leaders of the people’s action council against the GAIL project described the police action as “inhuman and provocative,” cold-shouldering the concerns of around 600 families in Kozhikode district who would be affected with the 80-km gas pipe laying work. They said the project that required around 160 acres of land for completion would be mainly dislocating the villagers settled in the Thamarassery, Karassery and Mukkom regions.
To release the detainees, the action committee members laid a siege to the Mukkom police station under the leadership of people’s representatives led by M.I. Shanawaz, MP.
Condemning the police action, the action committee called for a hartal in Kodiyathur and Karassery grama panchayats in Kozhikode district on Thursday. The hartal would also affect the bordering areas of Kizhuparamba grama panchayat in Malappuram district.
Basheer Puthiyottil, vice chairman of the Anti-GAIL Action Committee, alleged that around 500 policemen from various stations unleashed attacks on the people on the morning in the name of clearing the location for land acquisition procedures.
Police refute allegation
Refuting the allegation of the action committee leaders, the Mukkom police said they resorted to the lathicharge as their colleagues were attacked using stones.
Meanwhile, GAIL chief manager M. Viju said the issue was created by unknown people who reached the spot from other locations to fuel the campaign.