(The Hindu, June 18, 2008)
Kerala - Kozhikode
VHP activists clash with police
Staff Reporter
They assembled before 'Math' to stop entry of Vedi workers
— Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup
Iron grip: The police taking a protester into custody in front of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math in the city on Tuesday.
Kozhikode: The city on Tuesday witnessed another violent incident, the second of this week when Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) workers clashed with the police during a protest march taken out by the activists of Yuvajana Vedi to the Mata Amritanandamayi Math at Vellimadukunnu here.
The police resorted to lathicharge when around 250 VHP activists pelted them with stones and blocked vehicles on the Wayanad Road. VHP activists had gathered in front of the Math to prevent the Vedi activists from entering the religious centre. The former went on rampage after the Vedi workers, numbering 50 and including seven women, had dispersed from the scene.
Vedi’s protest
The Vedi had taken a march to the Math to protest against the “commercialisation of spiritualism and the links between mafia and religious leaders in the State.” A large posse of police personnel led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) C.M. Pradipkumar blocked the activists near the Chevayur police station. Vehicular traffic was disrupted for more than an hour on the route.
The Chevayur police took five VHP activists, Anilkumar, Jublileesh, Babu, Radhakrishnan and Rajesh into custody in connection with the incident. They were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate’s Court and released on bail.
The CPI (M) State secretariat member K.N. Ajoikumar who inaugurated the march demanded that the State government investigate into the source of funds of the VHP and other Sangh Parivar organisations. CPI (ML) district secretary P.T. Haridas and Yuva Jana Vedi State president P.K. Priyeshkumar addressed the protesters.
