A hartal supporter was arrested and remanded in judicial custody for obstructing a cancer patient and his wife from heading to a hospital in Thiruvalla on Wednesday. The accused, identified as Ajimon, 50, a resident of Chumathra in Thiruvalla, is a leader of the Cherama Sambava Development Society.
According to an officer from Thiruvalla police, despite the couple pleading with Ajimon to allow them to proceed, the hartal supporters, led by the accused, ignored their requests. Ajimon has been booked under multiple sections, including attempt to commit culpable homicide (BNS 110), wrongful restraint (BNS 126(2)), and criminal intimidation (BNS 351(2)).
The First Information Report (FIR) states that the accused threatened the patient, Siju, 48, a resident of Kalady near Ernakulam, who arrived at the KSRTC bus stand in Thiruvalla around 7:30 am on Tuesday. Siju was on his way to a hospital for treatment. The accused stopped him and issued threats, saying, 'We announced the strike 10 days ago, so it's your fault if you did not plan accordingly. Or else you should have reached the hospital and stayed there on Monday itself. We don't want to know what illness you have. You are intentionally trying to sabotage the hartal.'
The FIR further notes that the accused's actions posed a threat to the complainant's life by delaying necessary medical treatment. Police also reported that the hartal supporters made baseless allegations against them, calling them 'white police' who attempt to sabotage the hartal. The police subsequently transported the couple to the hospital in Kozhenchery using their vehicle.
Ajimon was produced before a court, which remanded him in judicial custody.
