THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, July 7: The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition held up proceedings of the Kerala Assembly for the better part of the day today, protesting over the arrest and detention of former Cooperation Minister MV Raghavan. Raghavan was arrested on Friday in connection with the 1994 police firing at Koothuparamba in Kannur district in which five Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists lost their lives.

Opposition and ruling front members nearly came to blows as members from both sides rushed to the well of the House after the Speaker refused leave for an adjournment motion on Raghavan's arrest.

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