Kozhikode, June 28: The district administration would recommend to the cabinet sub-committee for using force to disperse the agitators near Marad to help the rehabilitation process on, collector T O Sooraj said today. "I will recommend use of force, if necessary, to the sub committee, scheduled to meet here tomorrow, to disperse the local mob for blocking the process of rehabilitation," he told newspersons here.

The protesters are demanding that a displaced family of the minority community, brought back as part of rehabilitation measures, vacate the place, he said.

"Our appeal will be to give the administration a clear-cut direction, including use of force if necessary, to handle the situation," Sooraj said, adding there was no compulsion for the family members to stay back at their home if they felt so.

Asked why the administration had not consented to the family's plea to allow them to leave in view of mounting tension in the area following the agitation launched by locals, mainly women, he said, "If they make repeated pleas, we have no hesitation in sending them back to the relief camp."

When contacted, city commissioner T K Vinod Kumar said that police would continue providing security to the family and were prepared to meet any eventuality in case the agitation, entering the fourth day today, turned violent.

Bureau Report