Thammanam Junction witnessed tense moments on Friday, as the stand off between activists of the Youth League and the Democratic Youth Federation of India ended up in physical assaults, leaving two injured.
Shajahan, also known as Thammanam Shaji, who is on the goonda list and now reportedly associated with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), suffered cuts on his head and his brother P.K. Nizar got his two fingers cut off. Shaji and six others were at a tea shop near the Ponnurunni mosque when the attackers came around 2.45 p.m. The condition of Nizar was stated to be serious and that of Shaji stable.
The police said that the tension was caused by the Youth League setting up a flagpost at Thammanam Junction 10 days ago. Some CITU activists were beaten up during a scuffle that erupted over the issue. In retaliation, the other group destroyed the flagpost and the Youth League took out a protest march at Chalikkavattom on Thursday.
Shaji used to lead a gang involved in cases of extortion and other kinds of criminal activity before the police action contained him. The police are yet to arrest any one in connection with Friday’s incidents.
