On the 60thanniversary of Kerala’s first ministry, Thiruvananthapuram witnessed high tension on Wednesday, after police forcefully arrested and allegedly assaulted the family of Jishnu Pranoy – the Nehru college student who was found dead on January 6.
The opposition UDF has called for a state-wide shutdown on Thursday, protesting against the police action on Jishnu’s family. Malappuram, however, will be exempted from the hartal as the model code of conduct is in force with bye-polls due on April 12.
Jishnu's mother Mahija, father Ashokan, uncle Sreejith and 11 other members had reached DGP Loknath Behera's office on Wednesday morning, to protest against the delay in the probe into the 18-year-old’s death.
Following the alleged assault, Jishnu’s mother Mahija was admitted in Peroorkkada government hospital for low blood pressure. Though relatives have alleged that Mahija suffered injuries to her stomach, hospital authorities are yet to confirm the same.
The UDF has also decided to boycott the 60th anniversary celebrations of Kerala’s first ministry on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the BJP has also declared a hartal in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode districts on Thursday.
Terming the alleged assault on Jishnu’s family an “unfortunate incident”, DGP Loknath Behera visited Mahija in hospital. Promising that action will be taken against police officials who misbehaved wth Jisha’s family, Behera also announced that IG Manoj Abraham would hold an inquiry over the incident.
The tussle turned violent when the protesters were on their way to the DGP office. The police prevented all the protesters from going in to the office and maintained that only 6 people will be let in.
When Jishnu's family resisted this, they were forcefully removed from the spot.