The ongoing BJP-CPI(M) tussle in the district appears to have reached new heights with the BJP calling a dawn-to-dusk hartal here on Friday to protest against what they termed the ‘violence perpetrated by CPI(M) activists with police connivance.’
The latest incident occurred on Thursday morning when Kumarakom grama panchayat president P.K. Sethu and member Jayakumar, both BJP, were attacked by masked group when the two were coming to the panchayat office. According to BJP activists, there were more than two dozen persons and except one, all had mask in their face.
They first attacked Mr. Sethu who has suffered serious injuries on his leg and arm. Mr Jayakumar who arrived to save his colleague also received blows. Both have been admitted to Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital.
Among the attackers, the one who had not masked his face had been identified as Ambily, said N. Hari, district president of the BJP. He wanted the police to register a case under Kerala Anti-Social (Prevention) Act (KAPA) and an investigation by a special team into the violence being perpetrated by the CPI(M).
Thursday’s attack follows another one last Saturday night in which the residence of a BJP activist was attacked by SFI activists. According to the police, this is in retaliation to an altercation regarding the parking of a car. The police arrested five persons, including the SFI district secretary Rijesh K. Babu of Aymanam. Others included P.K. Jayakumar of Aymanam; Prince Antony of Rajubhavan,,Thaliparamba, Kannur; Jain Raj of Devikolam and Sinusin Ghosh of Kurichy.
Later, the police registered a case against the owner of the house P.K. Suku, his brother, son and nephew, based on a complaint by Rijesh K. Babu.
According to the BJP district chief, the one at Kumarakom was the latest in a series of assaults in which residences, vehicles, and individuals had been attacked. Complaints had been submitted to the District Police Chief and District Collector, but with no results, he said and alleged that the police was acting hand in glove with the CPI(M) in this regard.
According to him, the State conference of the Kshetra Samrakshana Samithi being held at Ettumanur and that of the Ganaka Maha Sabha in Kottayam and the jubilee meeting of Kanjirappally diocese had been exempted from the hartal.
