LDF's secretariat siege turns violent

A tense situation prevailed in Thiruvananthapuram as the secretariat blockade agitation of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) turned violent in some parts.

Police resorted to several rounds of firing at Bakery junction, where a policeman was injured due to stone pelting by violent mob. Public life took a hit due to traffic curbs imposed by the police against the presence of 50,000 LDF workers in the capital.

According to official sources, 66 per cent of the state department's staff and officers attended duty on Monday, though the chief secretary had issued notice to employees not to take leave.

Chief minister Oommen Chandy reached his office by 6.30 am to preside over the Cabinet meeting of 16 ministers. Later, LDF workers blocked the vehicles of ministers KM Mani and VS Shivakumar, who were returning to official residences after the Cabinet meeting.

Earlier, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat inaugurated the agitation demanding resignation of the chief minister for his alleged involvement in the solar power scam. Former prime minister HD Deva Gowda, CPI general secretary Sudhakar Reddy and other leaders also spoke on the occasion. Police had registered a case against  LDF leaders and workers, including Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan and CPI (M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, against blocking the offices in the secretariat complex.

LDF had planned to stage the blockade indefinitely till Chandy announces his resignation.