Thiruvananthapuram: A total of 321 people have been booked in connection with a violent protest against a waste treatment plant near Thamarassery in Kerala, police said on Wednesday.
The protest took place on Tuesday at the Ambayathodu village plant, managed by Freshcut, after residents alleged that waste was being dumped into a nearby river. Thamarassery police have registered six cases related to the incident, each based on different complaints.
“In all six cases, a total of 321 persons have been named as accused, of whom 21 have been identified,” a police officer said. “Investigation is underway, and any further action is yet to be initiated,” he added.
Tensions erupted as locals claimed that the poultry waste unit was emitting a strong stench and polluting the nearby river. When a waste collection lorry arrived at the site, protesters began throwing stones, prompting police intervention.
The confrontation escalated into clashes, leaving several protesters injured when police used batons to disperse the crowd. Several officers, including the Kozhikode Rural Superintendent of Police, also sustained injuries from stone-throwing, police said.
With PTI inputs