Police fires in air to disperse mob in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 16 (UNI) Scores of people, including policemen, were injured when police resorted to lathicharge and even had to fire in the air to disperse a violent mob who had allegedly set on fire a factory at Kazhakootam near here.

According to sources, nine women had fainted after inhaling the smoke coming out from the clay factory. At this, about 2000 people entered the factory demanding its closure, ransacking its office. A few minutes later, they even set the factory building on fire, the sources said.

The police was forced to fire in the air as the lathicharge had failed to disperse the agitating mob, police sources said.

Though top officials and Addl District Magistrate reached the spot and tried to assure the people that the government would take appropriate steps to close the factory, but the agitating mob did not hear and that forced the police to resort to lathicharge.

Another group from the nearby area, meanwhile, added to the tension as it demanded not to close the factory.

Heavy police force have been deployed in the area.

The nine women, meanwhile, were admitted to the Medical College Hospital here and were safe, the hospital sources said.

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