Puttur: An inhumane incident has been reported in Puttur, where the body of a worker who died during work was transported in a pickup vehicle and left on the road in front of his house. Dalit organisations held a protest in front of the Puttur City Police Station today condemning the incident.
The incident occurred on Saturday in the Salmara area of Chikkamudnoor village in Puttur taluk. The deceased, Shivappa (69), was a labourer from Salmara Tarigudde.
According to reports, Shivappa was taken to work in the morning by Henry Travo of Salmara Travo Industries in a pickup vehicle. While at the worksite, Shivappa reportedly fell seriously ill, and in the afternoon, he was brought back in the pickup and left lying on the road in front of his house. "When my mother and I went to check, we found that my father had passed away. Later with the help of our neighbours we brought the dead body inside," said Shivappa’s daughter, Usha, in her police statement.
Usha’s statement has led to the Puttur City Police registering a case. The police have seized the pickup vehicle that was allegedly used to transport the body.
Various Dalit organisations held a protest in front of the Puttur Town Police Station, condemning the inhumane act of leaving Shivappa's body on the roadside.
Following the protest, police went to Salmara Tavromil and retrieved the vehicle that had been used to transport the body, which they have now seized.
During this time, Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai, Dalit leaders, BJP leader Arun Kumar Puthil, and others were present.
MLA Ashok Kumar Rai questioned the delay in the police investigation, stating that abandoning the body in such a manner was not acceptable. He has instructed the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Kozhikode (PTI): Violence erupted overnight at various places across Kerala, particularly in northern districts, following the announcement of local body election results, police said.
In Eramala in Kozhikode district, tension prevailed throughout the night after the Indira Gandhi Bhavan, a Congress office, was allegedly attacked by CPI(M) workers.
According to an FIR registered at Edachery police station, around 200 people marched towards the Congress office carrying dangerous weapons and vandalised the building, causing damage estimated at around Rs five lakh.
A statue of late prime minister Indira Gandhi was also damaged in the attack, police said. Soon after, UDF activists gathered at the spot, further aggravating the situation.
ALSO READ: Attempt to shield 'infiltrators': BJP ahead of Cong's rally against 'vote theft'
However, with the deployment of additional police personnel, the situation was brought under control, an officer said.
Police said another violent incident was reported at Marad, where stones were allegedly pelted at a UDF victory procession, leaving several persons injured.
In Sultan Bathery in Wayanad district, police registered a case after a car carrying a UDF activist and his family members was allegedly attacked by around 40 CPI(M) workers, an official said.
Sultan Bathery police also booked UDF activists in a separate incident for allegedly attacking a CPI(M) worker who objected to the bursting of crackers near his house, the officer said.
In Panoor in Kannur district, houses of several Muslim League activists were allegedly attacked by CPI(M) workers. Vehicles parked at the houses were also damaged.
According to Panoor police, the violence broke out after a UDF victory rally was allegedly stopped by CPI(M) workers armed with swords and daggers. Some UDF leaders sustained injuries in the clash.
Clashes were also reported between UDF and LDF workers at Ulikkal in Kannur district, though police intervention brought the situation under control later in the night, an officer in the Ulikkal police station said.
In Bedakom in Kasaragod district, an LDF victory march turned violent after CPI(M) activists allegedly intercepted UDF workers passing through the area. Some policemen who intervened suffered minor injuries, an officer said.
Similar violence was reported from Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram district following clashes between CPI(M) and BJP workers. Police said workers from both sides sustained minor injuries and were admitted to hospitals. Cases will be registered after formal complaints are received, police said.
