Kerala gold smuggling case: Protests erupt across state demanding CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s resignation

The Kerala gold smuggling case took a political colour after the main accused was reported to be very close to many higher ranked people in the state government  

Kannur: Youth organisations protested across the state demanding Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s resignation after he said that the state government has nothing to do with the gold smuggling case.

The protests were held in districts like Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Wayanad.

The protests were organised by Youth League, Youth Congress and Yuva Morcha. It is also reported that in several places, the protesters had clashed with police.

According to reports, in Kozhikode, many people were hurt after police resorted to baton charge on agitating Youth League workers. In Kochi too, Yuva Morcha protest turned violent. In Kannur, police lobbed teargas shells to control protesters.

The Customs department had seized 30 kg gold from an air cargo consignment from the United Arab Emirates to the country’s consulate in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. Swapna Suresh, who was working as the operational manager of the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited under the state IT ministry, had gone underground after the seizure.

On July 9, the Centre handed over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).