By Matters India Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 28, 2022: The police in Kerala have registered a case against a Catholic archbishop, his auxiliary and 48 others in connection with violence during a protest against an under construction international seaport in the southern Indian state.

The police and protesters clashed at Vizhinjam police station close to the port protest site on November 27 night that led to injuries to more than 50 people, including 36 police personnel.

The violent mob also ransacked the police station and destroyed equipment and police vehicles parked in the compound.

The protesters came to the police station demanding the release five men detained by the police the previous day for violent clash in front of the port site. The protestors had blocked the entry of dumper trucks with construction materials.

Some claiming to be supporters of the port project accompanied the trucks and threw stones at the protestors.

The clash continued allegedly in connivance with the police. Many had sustained wounds in the violence.

The police later charged Archbishop Thomas J Nettor of Trivandrum Latin archdiocese, his auxiliary Bishop R Kristudas, priests and other protesters for the violence.

Father Eugene Pereira, convener of the protest, blamed the Communist-led Kerala coalition government and the Adani Group that is constructing the multi-billion dollar seaport project for the violence.

“Archbishop Netto, Bishop Kristudas and many priests and others named in the FIR (First Information Report) were not present at the protest site,” Father Pereira told media persons November 28.

He alleged that the state government and the private firm conspired to provoke the peaceful protestors in an apparent bid to weak their stir against the port.

The priest denied the protesters indulged in the November 27 violence at the police station. “It is true our people were there in the police station, but somebody else in the crowd had attacked the station and put the blame on us.”

A priest who was wounded in the police action said the police personnel behaved so violently at the protestors. He was hit on the head with a baton.

Father Pereira termed the plight of injured as unfortunate and said the violence was unleashed not by the fisherfolk but those with a hidden agenda to defeat the protest.

Meanwhile, efforts are on to resolve the controversy and the police intensified their vigil in and around the protest site.

The archdiocese of Trivandrum has been leading the fishermen’s protest since July 20 after the state government refused to rehabilitate fishermen who lost their houses and other belongings to seawater after the port construction started.

The Adani Vizhinjam international seaport construction started in 2015. Soon after the construction work started protestors said, “Houses of close to 500 fishermen submerged in seawater and other public places include acres of seashore.”

The government despite promises made no arrangement for resettlement of those lost their houses or compensated them forcing them to shift unhygienic ware houses.

The protestors have vowed to continue their stir until their demands are met.