Two factories set on fire to oppose pollution in village
Violence sparked by attack on protesters
Thiruvananthapuram: In an unprecedented action against allegedly polluting firms, locals at a village in north Kerala set fire to two factories.
The incidents were apparently provoked when a protester was shot at and another attacked with a sharp instrument when a group of people were trying to put up a pandal (tent) in front of one of the units, to protest against alleged environmental pollution.
The first incident was reported from Mambad near Nilambur and the injured were identified as Panolan Bashir and Junaid. Bashir was shot in the leg. Both were taken to nearby hospitals.
It was not immediately clear who had shot at Bashir though early reports indicated that it might have been one of the security guards at the gate who had confronted the protesters after they allegedly opened fire.
Blame game
Shortly after the incident, the processing unit of RK Latex, where the incident occurred, was set on fire.
Even as the factory was set ablaze, reports poured in of another unit, identified as Ruby Factory, being set on fire.
There were allegations from the locals that the companies may have set fire to the units themselves to blame the locals. Representatives of both factories were not immediately available for comment.
