Nayanar staffer ordered attack on Cong 8212; Antony

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEBRUARY 10: While demanding a probe by a sitting judge into police action against Youth Congress workers in Kollam on Monday, Opposition leader A.K. Antony yesterday alleged that an 8220;extra-constitutional authority in the Chief Minister8217;s office had given the direction to the police to attack the Youth Congress workers at the DCC office8221;.

Antony told mediapersons here that Chief Minister E.K. Nayanar, who was away in Kannur, was not party to the order. 8220;My information is that one of the staff members in the Chief Minister8217;s office issued the order,8221; Antony said. According to the Opposition Leader, the order was to let loose the police on the hapless Youth Congress workers, who were marching towards the SP8217;s office, 8220;like never before in the history of the state8221;. The police also attacked the DCC office in the process. Antony called for exemplary punishment to the police personnel responsible for the incidents.

Referring to Nayanar8217;s comment that Youth Congress workers wereresponsible for the incidents, he said: 8220;Then the Chief Minister should not hesitate to order a judicial inquiry.8221;

Antony wanted to know why the police had entered the DCC office if their mandate was only to disperse the protesters on the road.