By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net
Kochi: Driven by the uncompromising willpower, residents at Puthuvyppe, Kochi have decided to proceed their struggle for the right to live. The last three days of police brutality seems to be not enough to draw them back from the ongoing protests against upcoming LPG import terminal at Puthuvype.
“Our’s is a struggle to live. If we fail we will die. The struggle will go on,” says N R Sudheer, a local resident and functionary of Anti Puthuvyppe LPG Terminal Popular Committee. The three-month old struggle started to unfold when protesters here were brutally charged by the police on June 16 and June 18. So far, around 310 persons, including more than 100 women, have been arrested following in last three days. On June 16, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Kochi to inaugurate Kochi Metro, the police unleashed brutal attack on the protesters. 224 persons, including children and women were taken into custody. 36 persons were left with injuries while a police team, led by DCP Yathish Chandra, resorted into brutal baton charge.
Led by political leaders and activists, around 700 protesters camped at Marine Drive near High Court Junction. ”Residents at Puthuvyppe were flocking to Marine Drive in bikes, vans and buses to attend the protest to be held at High Court Junction. We planned a protest in quite democratic way. But, things turned worse when police took some of us to custody alleging a van was overcrowded. And we were waiting for arrest. But, the police started to charge us with latis without any provocation,” Sudheer said.
Agitation at Puthuvyppe dates back to 2009 when the LPG terminal with a capacity of was six lakh tonne LPG was proposed by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Local residents allege that the plant is set up without ensuring any proper safety measures. Besides, according to them, the plant is violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification. Any kind of accident at the plant, which is now under construction only with 30 metres distance from the residential area, will affect more than 7,000 nearby residents at Pudupvyppe. The ongoing protests started after the State Government announced that it will go ahead with the project.
“Since the plant’s inception, residents have been raising their concerns about their safety. But, their apprehension is yet to be addressed,” says activist T N Santhosh.
Following conciliatory talks between protesters and Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma, it was decided to not stage any protests taking note of the inaugural ceremonies of Kochi Metro. Mercukutty Amma ensured all steps to withdraw police from Puthuvyppe and action against the officers, who mistreated the agitators. Anti Puthuvyppe LPG Terminal Popular Committee agreed while district collector Y Safirulla urged them to withdraw the agitation citing IOC had agreed to adjourn works on the project till June 21. “IOC has informed that they have decided to defer the works following a meeting, convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram,” Safirulla said.
On June 18, protests staged a march into IOC site while residents saw labourers resumed the construction works. “In a mere violation, we noted six persons, engaged in construction works,” Sudheer said.
The march took a violent turn while police started cane-charging. 81 persons including 64 women were taken into custody while about 30 persons suffered injuries. They were taken to Government Medical College at Kalamassery and the Ernakulam General Hospital. The agitators, who were detained at the Kalamassery Armed Reserve Camp, were denied treatment by the police citing technical reasons.
The worst episode of the entire incident was the mistreatment, extended by the police towards the women protesters in the custody. They were asked to stand in the police stand and even not allowed to use the toilets.
Bid to give agitation extremist twist
The police tried to give an extremist twist in order to deviate the public attention. Soon after the incidents, Eranakulam Rural SP A V George told media persons that the agitators were getting support from the organizations with extremist nature.
He said police have information about the role of forces and parties with extremist nature in the protest. “We are investigating their role,” he said.
Local residents and activists rubbished the allegation saying it was the dirty trick by the police to justify their brutalities. “Police tend to attach agitations to extreme organizations in a bid to justify their action. But, such moves can’t denigrate the spirit of this agitation as people here are well aware of the cause,” Santhosh said.
Meanwhile, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran came down heavily against the police’s claims saying such allegations were raised in a bid to use UAPA against the agitators here. He also termed the police action brutal. Veteran CPIM leader and former Chief Minister V S Achuthananhdan also demanded action against the police. Besides, Kerala State Human Rights Commission has taken a case in the issue and sought a report from Kochi City Police Commissioner M P Dinesh.
However, following criticism from various corners state police chief T P Senkumar has sought a report from Kochi City Police Commissioner.