Defying prohibitory orders, PFI holds rally

PERUMBAVOOR: Ignoring prohibitory orders, tens of thousands of Popular Front of India (PFI) activists held a rally at Perumbavoor town on Saturday evening.The rally was organised to mark the culmination of the PFI Zonal campaign, with the message ‘Freedom A Birthright’. Activists from Idukki, Thrissur, Kottayam, Palakkad and Ernakulam took part in the zonal campaign.  The police was literally taken by surprise after the the PFI activists thronged the town all of a sudden. The District Collector had issued prohibitory orders, banning rally by the PFI in Perumbavoor. But, the activists managed to take out the rally, which was blocked by a strong contingent of police personnel at the Govt Hospital Junction.The police arrested over 400 activists, including district presidents Anwar Hussain (Idukki), Muhammed Nizar (Kottayam), M Farooq (Thrissur) and K A Abdul Jaleel (Palakkad). Superintendent of Police Harshita Attaluri, DySPs and CIs from Ernakulam Rural District led the massive police posse.  The police said the participants of the rally were arrested as a preventive measure. They were later released on bail.Meanwhile, a public meeting was held at the Gandhi Square of Municipal Ground in the town. PFI national secretary K M Sheriff inaugurated the meeting, which was attended by a large number of activists. PFI national executive committee member K Koya delivered the keynote address at the meeting presided over by state secretary P Abdul Hameed. Mohemmed Issa Moulavi, state treasurer Samkutty Jacob, Renny, K K Baburaj and Jamal Mohemmed spoke on the occasion.