The Youth Congress in Kerala started the protest on 15 January. It continued with its protests against the arrest of its State President, Rahul Mamkootathil, by holding marches to government offices in some parts of the southern state. He has a case of a recent stir against the government that has triggered widespread protest by the Congress and allegations of police raj by the CPM-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala. His Mother, Beena, told reporters that her son was held by surrounding the house as if he was a terrorist or evading person. 

The police resorted to lathi-charge, water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowd outside Kozhikode District Collectorate. Youth Congress State Secretary VT Nihal was injured in the explosive attack by the police. The agitators also strike the National Highway in front of the Collectorate, affecting the traffic on the Kozhikode-Wayanad road. According to reports, Youth Congress National Secretary Vidhya Balakrishnan and District President R Shahin are under police custody.

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Did police arrest Rahul Mangkoottathil?

A police party from Cantonment police station in Thiruvananthapuram arrived at Rahul’s house on the morning of 16 January. Rahul was brought to the police station and informed that he was arrested in connection with the incident during the Youth Congress march against the Kerala Government outreach programme Nava Kerala Sadas, Thiruvananthapuram, in December. The case concerned damage to public property and the injury caused to eight police officers, including the Cantonment sub inspector. 

“My son did not commit any murder. I asked all the police officers who came to my house as to why they were taking away my son. But none had an answer. I understand they were only implementing the orders received from higher-ups. My son is not afraid of such arrests.”

– Rahul’s Mother

Youth Congress workers organised protests in several districts against Rahul’s arrest. The YC workers blocked traffic on the state and national highways in many places. They held protest demonstrations in the district headquarters. PCC president K Sudhakaran, Benny Behnan, Shafi Parambil, Ramesh Chennithala, K C Venugopal and P K Kunhalikutty condemned the police’s highhandedness. K C Venugopal said the arrest of Rahul was an example of the police raj in Kerala.

“The entire house of Rahul was cordoned off as if the cops had come to take away a terrorist.”

Opposition leader Satheeshan