THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Archdiocese of the Catholic Church (Latin rites) blamed the police for yesterday’s violence in Vizhinjam. He argued that the police provoked the protesters. Fr Eugene Pereira, convenor of the protestors panel, demanded a judicial investigation on the incident.

Talking to the media, Pereira said what happened in Vizhinjam is a planned script and it was a move of the government to break the strike. ‘Some provoked the protesters who were striking peacefully. Selton, arrested the other day has no connection with the attacks. We suspect the left-BJP nexus against the strike,’ he said.

Meantime, Minister V Sivankutty said the Vizhinjam protesters behave like terrorists. The main demands of the protesters were accepted and this is the beginning to foment riots in the state, he said.