SNDP men mess up traffic

KOCHI: The march taken out by the SNDP on Wednesday as a protest against the anti-Sree Narayana Guru remarks made by DCC president V.J. Poulose, turned violent as the protesters clashed with the police near the Ernakulam government hospital.

The march, comprising thousands, commenced from Marine Drive and was en route to the DCC office when it was stopped near the hospital junction where the police had placed barricades.

Though the protesters attempted to break the police block by jumping the barricades, the SNDP leaders managed to control the mob and bring the situation under control.

SNDP state vice president Thushar Vellappally, who inaugurated the march, demanded the immediate resignation of V.J. Poulose from his post as DCC president.

“Poulose needs to learn the history of Kerala state, the Guru and Jesus Christ. The Guru and Christ lived in this world as human beings and Poulose has to accept that truth”, he said.

Thushar also demanded strong action against those who attempted to tarnish the image of Sree Narayana Guru.

He also alleged that political leaders were trying to cut the SNDP down to size in educational and industrial sectors.

A large police force led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Gopalakrishna Pillai, was present at the place to control the protesters.

Police have registered cases against leaders who led the march and 8,000 others who could be identified.