Wayanad: 5 injured in violent protest over 'worm-infested food kits' for landslide survivors

At least five people were injured when violence broke out between two groups over the supply of allegedly worm-infested food kits by a panchayat to landslide survivors in Wayanad in Kerala.

The trouble erupted when some of the survivors complained about the sub-standard food distributed by the Meppadi Gram Panchayat, which is controlled by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). People complained that the food items provided were not even edible for animals and also alleged that the office provided used clothes to disaster victims.

The affected people displayed the allegedly contaminated food items, which included rice and wheat flour and staged a sit-in protest.

DYFI enters the picture

Tensions rapidly escalated when members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the CPI(M)’s youth wing, tried to force their way into the office of the panchayat president.

The police and panchayat members tried to stop them which led to clashes that left five people injured including panchayat president K Babu. Four others were admitted to a hospital.

The DYFI also staged a sit-in protest, placing the contaminated rice in front of the panchayat office.

The DYFI activists and the panchayat members accused one another of high-handedness.

The panchayat authorities said they had supplied the food kits donated by the revenue department and charitable organisations.

Blame game

"We have been supplying the food kits for the past three months without any issues. The alleged kits were supplied by the District Collectorate,” a panchayat member said. “We suspect a mystery behind this incident,” the member added.

The Wayanad disaster of July 30 devastated large parts of three villages and claimed 231 lives. At least 47 people are still missing.