With the easing of political tension in the region, the Thiruvananthapuram rural police have intensified efforts to apprehend those who were involved in the recent clashes between the CPI(M) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The Kattakkada police on Sunday arrested Nawasudeen, alias Navas, 40, of Kulachikkode at Vilappilsala. Navas, an SDPI activist, is the prime accused in the attack on CPI(M) activist Sasikumar who was on his way to distribute newspapers in Kattakkada in the early hours of November 19.
Caught in camera
Visuals from a surveillance camera had shown that Sasikumar, who was travelling on a motorcycle, was intercepted by two persons on a two-wheeler. The police later found that Sasikumar had been trailed by four SDPI activists on two motorcycles. Two of those accused, Al Ameen and Arshad, were arrested from Thampanoor two days after the incident.
During efforts to recover the weapon used by Nawas to assault Sasikumar, the police chanced upon a cache of weapons from a house at Vilappilsala. The house belongs to another SDPI activist, Shamnad.
According to Aryanad Inspector B. Anil Kumar, who is currently in charge of the Kattakkada police circle, around 15 weapons, including swords and iron rods, have been recovered from the house. While a case has been registered by the Vilappilsala police in connection with the recovery, it is yet to be ascertained whether Shamnad, who is absconding, had been directly involved in the clashes.
Mr. Anil Kumar also pointed out that Nawas and Arshad were directly involved in the attack on the houses of DYFI district secretary I. Saju and Uzhamalakkal grama panchayat president A. Rahim during the late hours of November 17.
Also, three CPI(M) workers had been arrested on the charge of assaulting an SDPI worker. Three more remains to be arrested in the case.
