New Delhi: A mob attacked Vizhinjam police station in Kerala on the night of November 27, demanding the release of people who had been taken in custody a day ago during a protest against the construction of an Adani port. At least 29 to 36 policemen were injured and vehicles damaged, it has been reported.Around 3,000 identifiable persons have been named in FIRs, it has been reported.PTI has reported that the mob was allegedly led by the Latin Catholic church. The church has been leading a protest against the Adani seaport in the area for over three months.The growing agitation against the port on India’s southern tip – seen as key to winning business from ports in Dubai, Singapore and Sri Lanka – has seen construction halted for more than three months. Protesters, mostly from the fishing community, blocked its entrance, blaming the development for coastal erosion and depriving them of their livelihoods.On Sunday night, the mob targeted the police station using sticks and bricks, and attacked police officers after a person was arrested and a few other were taken into custody in connection with protests which turned violent on November 26.The agitators also attacked a camera person working for the local channel ACV, Sherif M John. John’s camera was damaged and his cellphone was taken. He was taken to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital for treatment.The district administration has initiated a peace talk with the church authorities. A representative of the latter, Father Eugene Pereira, said the church wants to maintain peace.However, Reuters quoted Pereira as having called for a judicial inquiry into the incident and having alleged that, “Stones were pelted from even the station.”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.”ScuffleMultiple cases were registered against at least 15 Latin Catholic priests and over 100 people over the clashes that broke out in Vizhinjam between two groups on Saturday, November 26. One person was arrested.Also read: Why Fisherfolk Are Protesting Against Adani’s Vizhinjam Port in KeralaThe police said that the accused – metropolitan Archbishop Thomas J Netto, auxiliary bishop Father Christudas, Father Eugine Perera, and Lawrence Gulas, among others – have been charged with criminal conspiracy, unlawfully assembly and rioting.Going against the assurances given to the Kerala high court, the protesters agitating in front of the under-construction Vizhinjam seaport had on Saturday blocked the trucks carrying construction materials to the site, it has been reported.The protesters, led by the Latin Catholic church, had on November 22 assured the high court that they would not block any vehicles coming to the Vizhinjam seaport. The high court had told protesters that stern action will be taken against them if they failed to remove the obstructions.During the blockade, a section of locals who are in support of the project opposed the presence of protesters, leading to a scuffle.Indian Express reported that action council convener Father Eugene Pereira claimed that police remained lenient to employees of the port and Bharatiya Janata Party members. “The police have arrested the bishops and the priests in the criminal case, and charged them with conspiracy even though they were not part of the agitation. Saturday’s violence was unleashed by the men of Adani (group) with the connivance of police and BJP. We want a peaceful solution to the issue,’’ he said.Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition, Congress’s V.D. Satheesan said the FIR against the Archbishop was unacceptable. “Cases have been registered against nearly 50 priests. This cannot be accepted. Now it seems like the Pinarayi Vijayan headed government will do anything for the Adani Group. The Latin Church’s allegation that the violence was orchestrated by the government is a serious one,” he said in a statement on Sunday.Satheesan said the United Democratic Front had earlier pledged support to the protesters and will continue to do so.Cases have been registered under section IPC 143 (Unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 447 (criminal trespass), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty).The police have registered a case based on a complaint filed by people’s forum, a group of people, which supports the project, that the anti-seaport protesters attacked them.Meanwhile, Father Eugine Perera has claimed that the state government was not ready to properly rehabilitate the members of the coastal community.“The government which is not ready to properly rehabilitate us is now threatening us with police cases. We will not back down. Tomorrow, the government will move the court against us,” Perera told reporters.He said the protesters will file an appeal against the court’s order on various matters related to the Vizhinjam protest.The port, a Kerala government initiative, is currently being developed in a landlord model with a Public Private Partnership component on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (‘DBFOT’) basis. The private partner, Adani Vizhinjam Port Private ltd, commenced the construction on December 5, 2015 at a cost of Rs 7,525 crore.The Vizhinjam International Transhipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport authorities had said that 70% of the work has now been completed.(With PTI inputs)Note: This report is being updated as relevant news comes in.