Kochi: Youth Congress and Youth Front continued to hold protests on the fifth day in connection with the gold smuggling case. The infuriated protestors have demanded the resignation of higher education minister KT Jaleel.
Thirty Youth Congress workers participated in the protests, led by MLAs Shafi Paramabil and K S Sabarinadan. Several MLAs were injured after the clash between the demonstrators and police turned violent as the latter fired teargas shells and resorted to lathi-charge. The Yuva Mocha workers were also injured in the clash.
The demonstration comes after Enforcement Directorate (ED) said that Jaleel will be questioned again for his alleged involvement in the gold smuggling case.
Giving clarification on the matter, ED director SK Mishra said that the central agency has not given any clean chit to Jaleel whose news is making rounds on social media.
Agitated protestors clarified that they will continue the agitation till the minister's KT Jaleel and EP Jayarajan resign. During the protests, three police personnel also sustained severe injuries. Police erected barricades to stop the violent mob to go ahead following which several workers jumped over those.
The face-off between police and the unruly mob turned violent after Shafi’s speech ended and the agitators began to hurl stones and other objects at the police. However, Youth Congress members claimed that they were provoked by the police.
Though the police tried to disperse the crowd using water cannons several times, the workers did not budge. Later, the police fired tear gas shells at the workers in which women were also injured. All injured protesters were taken to the General Hospital.
Prolonged protests are being organized in Kerala since the Minister got alleged with FCRA violations. Jaleel had appeared before the ED on Friday at Kochi in connection with alleged FCRA violation in accepting consignments of the Holy Quran brought from UAE through diplomatic channel and his statement was recorded.
Yuva Morcha activists Pravin and Vipin Raj were arrested on September 13 night for allegedly driving a car into the convoy of minister KT Jaleel on the National Highway in Paripally in Kollam district. Days after his appearance before the agency kicked up a storm in Kerala, Jaleel had said that he was not prepared to reveal anything to those who were fabricating lies and spreading them.
