Kochi, May 30: A protest march organized by the Muslim Ekopana Samithi, Ernakulam to Kerala high court on Monday against a court judgment that cancelled a marriage conducted by a qazi between a Muslim man and a Hindu converted Muslim woman turned violent, forcing police to use force.
The samithi has called a dawn-to-dusk hartal against `police brutality' in Ernakulam district on Tuesday. "There was an unprovoked lathicharge. Various outfits have offered solidarity to the hartal," samithi convener V K Shoukathali said.
The protest march that began from Judges Avenue in Kaloor around 11 a.m, was blocked by the police in front of St. Albert's College.
When the protesters forcibly tried to proceed further, the police used water cannons to disperse the crowd and caned the protesters. Traffic along Banerji Road was disrupted for nearly an hour following the march and ensuing violence.
The police said about 2,000 people took part in the march though the committee had sought permission for the assembly of 500 people. The Samiti alleged that the police caned its activists without provocation.
The speakers at the protest called for a review of the verdict and raised threats of strengthening the agitation. Soon, the barricades were toppled on to the cops standing on the other side.
Shoukath Ali said police were not prepared for such huge number of protesters. "There was a lapse in mob management. About 25 of our protesters suffered injuries," he said.
The samithi maintained that the marriage between Hadiya, who embraced Islam, and Shefin Jahan of Kollam was valid as per Islamic customs. "The verdict is illogical and unconstitutional. The habeas corpus suit filed in the high court is part of a conspiracy ," it said in a release.
Meanwhile, Ernakulam assistant commissioner Laljy K said they did not resort to using batons. "Water cannons were used when protesters tried to breach the blockade. Two of our personnel have suffered injuries in the incident," he said.
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