Tension prevailed near the Secretariat early on Tuesday when a former employee of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) threatened to commit suicide.
The agitator, Diniya, a native of Alappuzha, is among numerous sacked KSRTC workers who have been protesting in front of the Secretariat, seeking their reinstatement. Their two-month long agitation appeared to have come to an abrupt end when the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation pulled down all makeshift protest pandals, that encroached the footpath that adjoined the Secretariat premises.
The midnight operation of the civic body was claimed to be in view of the Attukal Pongala on Wednesday when numerous devotees are expected to occupy the footpaths to offer ‘pongala’.
Ms. Diniya took her fellow agitators and police officers by surprise when she climbed a tree in the vicinity and threatened to commit suicide. She was soon brought down by workers of the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services and hospitalized after she complained of uneasiness. A mother of two, Ms. Diniya had lost her husband around six months ago, her former colleagues said.
Following the incident, the agitators occupied one side of MG Road, throwing traffic off gear. They maintained that they will not back off until their primary demand was met by the State government.
As many as 3,861 conductors were relieved of their duties by the public utility two months ago. The action came on the basis of the Kerala High Court order.