Former Kannur DCC president attacked

THALASSERY: Congress leader and former Kannur District  Congress Committee president P Ramakarishnan was assaulted by an alleged group of CPM activists as he was  standing in front of the municipal office here to inaugurate a new phase of the agitation against using Pettippalam as a dumping ground of municipal garbage, on Tuesday.P Ramakrishnan, who was pushed around and kicked by the  group of assailants, was later hospitalised for treatment of the injuries he sustained in the unexpected attack.  His shirt was torn and he was abused by the group as the cops led by a Sub-Inspector of police looked on. Ramakrishnan was admitted to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Thalassery, following the  incident.The incident took place at about 11.15 am in front of the municipal office here. The Pettippalam garabge stir had entered the 50th day on Tuesday, and the agitating environmental workers and the local people had decided to raise 50 lighted torches as part of their decision to intensify the agitation. Ramakrishnan, who was to inaugurate the stir was standing near the municipal office when an alleged group of CPM workers pounced on him. The women-supporters of the stir also weren’t spared by the assailants.Talking to Express at the hospital, Ramakrishnan said, “The CPM men who attacked him included municipal councillors and the known local leaders of the CPM. The women participating in the agitation were also beaten up by the activists. The cops led by a Sub-Inspector remained passive spectators as even women were being attacked.”A hartal was observed in New Mahe on Tuesday afternoon following the incident. HARTAL: The Action committee of the agitating environmental workers and the local people has decided to organise a hartal in the Thalassery municipal area on Wednesday in protest against the attack on Ramakrishnan and the participants of the agitation.  The hartal will be  from 6 am to 6 pm. The hartal won’t affect the movement of vehicles, stated the organisers of the hartal.