Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Kerala Minister Denies Police Lapse After BJP Protest
Kerala minister K M Shaji’s car was stopped by BJP workers in Thiruvananthapuram.
The protesters sat in front of the car and raised slogans.
Shaji tried to leave in an autorickshaw, but that vehicle was blocked too.
He then walked along the road until other vehicles arrived.
Shaji said the police were not at fault.
He said he had left his office earlier than planned and had not asked his security officer to call police.
Police later opened a case against five BJP workers.
The case includes allegations such as unlawful assembly, rioting, intimidation, wrongful restraint and force against a public servant.
BJP workers blocked K M Shaji’s official vehicle at Vanross Junction in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday evening.
The protesters also blocked an autorickshaw Shaji tried to use, leading him to walk along the road.
Shaji said he left his office earlier than scheduled and did not give police time to arrive.
Cantonment Police registered a case against five BJP workers under several Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions.
Police filed the case on their own after Shaji declined to submit a complaint.
- Who
- Kerala minister K M Shaji and BJP workers; Cantonment Police later registered a case against five workers.
- What
- BJP workers stopped Shaji’s vehicle and an autorickshaw, while Shaji denied that the incident resulted from a police security lapse.
- When
- The protest occurred on Wednesday evening; Shaji commented on Friday, and police registered the case on Thursday.
- Where
- Vanross Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- Why
- The BJP was conducting vehicle-blocking and black-flag protests after a similar Youth Congress protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Kollam.
- Minister
- K M Shaji, Kerala’s Local Self-Government Department minister
- Protest location
- Vanross Junction, Thiruvananthapuram
- Incident timing
- Wednesday evening
- Police case
- Registered against five BJP workers
- Police station
- Cantonment Police
- Complaint
- Police acted on their own after Shaji declined to file one
- Alleged offences
- Unlawful assembly, rioting, criminal intimidation, wrongful restraint, and assault or use of criminal force against a public servant