THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/

KOZHIKODE: The attack on a police station in Vizhinjam area by a large mob, allegedly of those protesting against the Adani port construction, was termed as “unacceptable” by the Left government on Monday, while the Latin Catholic church claimed “outside forces” were behind it and sought judicial probe into it.

Kerala Minister of Ports Ahammed Devarkovil said the government has been “very patient” till now where the protest was concerned, but if the agitation attains a “criminal nature” — where police personnel are attacked and injured and police property is destroyed — that was “unacceptable.”

“Especially in a secular state like Kerala, we will not allow any kind of communal conflict,” the minister said and claimed that the mob attacked houses and establishments of those not belonging to their community.

“We will go to any extent to ensure communal harmony in the state,” the minister said to reporters in Kozhikode.

On being told that the Latin Catholic church, which is leading the protest against the port construction, has claimed that external forces were in play and were the reasons for the violence during the last two days, Devarkovil said the government has received several reports and the same were being investigated.

He said he can discuss in detail about the reports only after the proceedings in the Kerala High Court on the issue gets over today. Vicar General Eugene Pereira, who has been seen at the forefront of the protests, claimed “outside forces” were behind the port-related violence in the last two days and said there should be a judicial probe into the incidents.

At the same time, he also said that the attack on the police station, injuries caused to the police personnel and the damage to property were not justifiable.