Protestors arrested for disrupting work

KOCHI: Police arrested several protestors who attempted to disrupt drainage covering work done by a house owner in front of the St Francis Church in Kathrikadavu on Monday. Around 50 protesters were arrested and taken to the Central Police Station. Later, the work was carried out under the police surveillance.According to Circle Inspector B Rajan, the house owner has a favourable verdict from the High Court and protesters have no right to disrupt the work.“The protesters, who are against the ongoing work, should have gone to the court. However, they didn’t do it. Now, by protesting here nothing can be done. We are acting only according to the High Court order,” B Rajan said.But the protesters alleged that the house owner had encroached the land and the current work is taking place to encroach the road further.“The work is carried out on the Poramboku land and when the house owner took the case to the High Court, the Corporation standing council was not present there. This led to a verdict in the favour of the house owner,” Rajeesh, a native said.Meanwhile, the police vehicles parked in the Kathrikadavu church junction has led to traffic block in the area on Monday morning. Almost three police buses were parked at the junction, blocking vehicle movement through the road. Although, the Circle Inspector and four Sub Inspectors were present, none of them were interested in moving the police buses from the junction.