Protests demanding Kerala CM's resignation turn violent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The protest marches taken out by the opposition, after Swapna Suresh - the accused in the gold smuggling case - raised new allegations, turned violent in different parts of the state.
The protest marches organized by Youth Congress workers in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, demanding the resignation of the chief minister, led to clashes on Thursday. Youth Congress members, who took out a march from Martyrs' Column, Palayam at 10am, were blocked by police using barricades in front of the Secretariat. Protestors tried to break it and police resorted to lathicharge and water cannons to disperse them.
At the same time, All-India Mahila Congress staged a 'biriyani protest' in front of the Secretariat by carrying imaginary gold bars. Mahila Congress workers also served biryani as part of their protest. Cantonment police registered a case against six Youth Congress and five Mahila Congress workers for unlawful assembly, rioting, rioting with armed weapons and obstructing public way.
In Kollam, a march was organized from Taluk Kachery office to the collectorate. Police resorted to lathicharge and water cannons to disperse the mob. Kollam West police registered a case against seven leaders and hundred others.
At Kottayam, a woman selling lotteries at civil station premises was injured when police used water cannons against protesting Yuva Morcha workers. When protesters reached the gate of the civil station, Valliammal (50) from Karappuzha moved to a building opposite to the gate. But the nozzle of the water cannon slipped and she was hit by a forceful jet of waterand sustained minor injuries on her head. Police rushed her to the general hospital and later to the medical college hospital where she is undergoing treatment now.
The protest march by Youth Congress to the taluk hospital in Kochi also turned violent when they tried to move the barricades installed by the police.
Meanwhile, different parts of Thrissur also witnessed protests by different organizations demanding the resignation of the CM. Yuva Morcha clashed with the police during a march to the collectorate, while Mahila Congress took out a biryani march. Yuva Morcha protests culminated in a lathicharge that left several people injured.
In Kozhikode, Youth Congress and Yuva Morcha workers took out protest marches to the collectorate separately on Thursday demanding CM's resignation. Police used water cannons to disperse YC activists after they tried to barge into the collectorate compound. Two police personnel sustained minor injuries in the clash. The protesters, who blocked the national highway, were later arrested and moved away by the police.