In a major twist to the Kothamangalam nurses’ strike episode, the police registered a case against the three nurses who staged the protest at Mar Baselios Hospital on grounds of ‘attempt to commit suicide’.
Nine persons who supported the strike were arrested. The arrest came on Monday, after the whole issue was settled through discussions with Labour Minister at Aluva the previous day.
The police arrested nine persons- Jose, 61, of Thalakode, Assainar, 37, of Kottappadi, Shivadas, 45, of Unnukal, Mani, Raghu, 36, of Ayirurpadam, Jose, 36, of Kothamangalam, Sinoop, 28, Manoj, 30, and Raju Peter, 33, of Unnukal - for destroying the video camera of the media persons. Later they were released on bail by the police.
The Kothamangalam police registered cases, including that for non-bailable offences, against as many as five hundred persons, who are identified in more than eight cases.
The offences against the protestors are unlawful assembly, rioting - armed with deadly weapons, and wrongful restraint.
The police have also registered cases in connection with obstructing the Independent Day rally organised by the Kothamangalam municipality at PO Junction, Prevention of Destruction of Public Property (PDPP) Act, abetment to commit suicide, vandalising the State Labour Officer’s car, assaulting the police officials and blocking National Highway.
The police have taken action against those who indulged in violence under the guise of the nurses’ strike. Nine were arrested based on the evidence of the video clips taken by the police. As per the intelligence reports, the extremist activists of some political parties used the strike as a cover for unleashing violence, said Kothamangalam SI Sathyavan.
However, Joint Agitation Council chairman K A Joy condemned the police action. “The state government violated the promise given during the conciliation meeting in which two Ministers were present.
The agitation council included the political parties belonging to the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the activists of Peoples Democratic Part (PDP) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).We will move against the police action,” Joy said.
The police have charged Priya, Vidyarani and Anu V S with ‘an attempt to commit suicide’ for threatening to jump off the terrace of the hospital, if their demands were not met.
The police have registered a case on charges of ‘abetment to suicide’ against nine persons including K A Joy, Boban, Manoj Gopi, T B Mini, general secretary of Indian Nurses Association Muhammed Shihab, and Susan Leby, according to the police.
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