Thiruvananthapuram | The opposition LDF on Monday alleged that the police used contaminated water in water cannons against AISF and AIYF activists protesting against the PM SHRI scheme, while the government said the sample would be sent for laboratory testing.

Raising the issue in the House, Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan displayed a bottle containing water allegedly collected from the protest site and urged the government to treat the matter seriously, particularly amid concerns over communicable diseases.

Holding up the bottle, Vijayan claimed the water sprayed by the police was visibly dirty and could potentially cause serious illnesses.

"This is the water that was sprayed. It is completely contaminated. It appears to have been taken from a canal or some other source and could even cause diseases such as amoebic meningoencephalitis," he alleged.

Responding to the allegation, state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said water used in police water cannons was normally sourced from the Kerala Water Authority.

He, however, said the sample shown in the House appeared contaminated and it might be because of the residue present in the tank.

"I do not know whether dirt had accumulated in the tank. The sample shown appears to be contaminated," he said.

The minister said he asked the City Police Commissioner to examine the matter and that the water sample has been sent to a laboratory for testing.

"We will verify the matter and report the findings to the House," Chennithala said, adding that contaminated water had not been used deliberately.

Earlier in the day, police used water cannons against AISF and AIYF activists protesting near the Assembly against the PM SHRI scheme.

The protesters, led by CPI MLA and former minister K Rajan, were demanding that the state government withdraw from the centrally-sponsored Prime Minister Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme.

Rajan later alleged that the protest was peaceful and accused the police of using water cannons twice without provocation.

"Dirty water was used for the purpose. Such an act is not even carried out against criminals," he told reporters.

The PM SHRI scheme has remained a contentious issue in Kerala. The previous LDF government had signed an MoU with the Centre for implementing the scheme but later put it on hold following protests by the CPI and opposition parties.

The CPI has since continued its agitation seeking withdrawal from the agreement.