Thiruvananthapuram: Vattiyoorkavu police issued notices to BJP leaders, including deputy mayor Asha Nath and councillors, in connection with the protest march to Vattiyoorkavu police station following the Nettayam clash. The leaders have been asked to appear at the station to record their statements on Thursday.Councillor Sumi Balu was named the first accused in the case, while former DGP and BJP councillor R Sreelekha is the fifth accused and Nath is the sixth. Councillor Yamuna was also served a notice. Police visited Sreelekha’s residence to serve the notice but were informed that she was out of town. The case pertains to BJP’s march to the police station and the subsequent clashes on April 21, following a confrontation between BJP and CPM workers at Nettayam. According to the police report, BJP leaders allegedly behaved in a manner that insulted the police during the protest. Sreelekha’s remarks against the force had triggered controversy, and she was later added as an accused. The accused were booked under Sections 189(1) and 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 191(2) (rioting), and 285 (obstruction in public ways) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 117(e) of Kerala Police Act. The protest march was led by Mahila Morcha and attended by women councillors of Thiruvananthapuram corporation under Sreelekha’s leadership. It was organised alleging that police forcibly entered a building within Balasubramania Temple premises at Edappazhinji under Vattiyoorkavu police station limits and broke open its door to arrest BJP-RSS workers. Earlier, mayor V V Rajesh alleged repeated police excesses against BJP councillors and workers in Vattiyoorkavu and announced plans to approach National Commission for Scheduled Castes, seeking action against local police leadership. The mayor had demanded strict action against Vattiyoorkavu circle inspector Vipin, accusing him of deliberately targeting BJP workers and creating unrest. He claimed that despite the FIR in a recent clash at Malamukal stating that CPM workers pelted stones at the police, officers were selectively acting against BJP members.
