Won't allow 'goondaism' in Kerala: Vijayan on Kochi incident

Condemning the attack on couples in Kochi on Wednesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that he would not allow "goondaism" in his state, adding police sticks should be used against such people.

He added the government will take strict action against those involved in moral policing.

Calling the incident a shame for Kerala, the Chief Minister said the attackers would be charged and punished.

The unruly incident in Kochi involving the Shiv Sena activists took the Kerala Assembly by storm on Thursday with the MLAs of the ruling LDF and the Opposition UDF slamming each other over the issue.

Congress leader Hibi Eden later boycotted the assembly proceedings for the day to protest Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's controversial statement linking the Shiv Sena with the UDF.

Even as the ruckus continued, the Chief Minister rose to speak and wondered whether there was a larger conspiracy behind the moral policing drama or whether the Shiv Sena activists were hired by the Opposition.

In an alleged incident of moral policing, the Shiv Sena activists threatened couples sitting at Kochi's Marine Drive Wednesday evening.

The entire incident took place in the presence of policemen.

The activists also marched with banners that read 'Stop crime against girls' and 'love under umbrellas must be stopped'.

Following the incident, six men belonging to the Shiv Sena were arrested under non-bailable offences as the group had not taken permission to hold the protest at Marine Drive.