DCC leader held after allegedly blocking Kerala CM’s convoy, Congress moves to suspend him

Thiruvananthapuram: Police on Saturday took District Congress Committee (DCC) member Chenthi Anil into custody for allegedly blocking Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan’s vehicle during Chathaya Day celebrations at Chenthi on Friday night.

The Congress has decided to suspend Anil over his alleged conduct towards the Chief Minister, party sources said.

Anil was detained by the Sreekaryam police and is expected to be produced before a local court after the completion of preliminary procedures.

The incident has added to tensions within the Congress in Thiruvananthapuram, with Anil alleging that his arrest was linked to factional disputes in the party.

Anil said the organisers had invited Satheesan to the Chathaya Day event and stopped the vehicle believing that the Chief Minister would attend the programme.

“We had invited the Chief Minister for our programme,” Chenthi Anil said, adding that preparations had been made in anticipation of Satheesan’s arrival.

The incident occurred while the Chief Minister was travelling to another event in nearby Chempazhanthy. According to police, a group led by Anil signalled the Chief Minister’s vehicle to stop and allegedly behaved inappropriately after it halted.

Satheesan is reported to have stepped out of the vehicle but left the spot without inaugurating the Chathaya Day programme. Security personnel then moved the protesters away to allow the convoy to proceed.

The police registered a case on the basis of a statement given by a Grade Sub-Inspector who was deployed at the location. The charges include allegedly obstructing the Chief Minister from performing official duties, wrongful restraint, insulting conduct and disruption of traffic.

The Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner is understood to have intervened in the matter and instructed officials to register the case.

Police said the Chenthi event was not included in the Chief Minister’s official itinerary. However, the organisers alleged that his failure to attend the programme was an insult to the local community and the celebrations.

Anil, a prominent Congress leader in the Sreekaryam-Chenthi region, is the husband of a former municipal councillor. He is also associated with community organisations and serves as an office-bearer of the local SNDP Union.

The detention and the party’s move to suspend him are expected to further sharpen internal tensions in the Thiruvananthapuram Congress unit.

(Inputs from IANS)