Hartal violence: HC initiates suo motu contempt proceedings

Kochi: High court has initiated a suo motu contempt of court case against Dalit and Adivasi organisations over the violence reported during the statewide hartal held by them on Tuesday, allegedly in violation of previous judgments on hartals. The hartal was called demanding the arrest of those responsible for the death of BDS student Nithin Raj at Kannur Dental College.The vacation bench of Justices Basant Balaji and P Krishna Kumar, upon noticing incidents of violence and vehicular obstruction in various parts of the state, directed HC registry to register a suo motu contempt case against the organisers and issue notices to them. During the morning session, HC also sought a report from the state police chief on the alleged incidents of violence and traffic disruptions reported from different districts in the wake of the hartal. The intervention was in light of HC's previous rulings banning flash hartals and holding that organisers of hartals would be liable for damage caused to the public and govt during such strikes.In the afternoon session, the state police chief submitted that 27 cases had been registered and 100 persons had been arrested in connection with incidents of violence across the state. It was also clarified that cases had been registered in various incidents, including an ambulance being obstructed at Thiruvalla and public transportation being disrupted in Thiruvananthapuram. HC further directed the govt pleader to place the same on record as a report and adjourned the matter.