The Pettah police have registered a case against 10 persons, including a local Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader, in connection with the armed attack on the house of a residents' association office-bearer at Pattoor on the night of April 27.
P. Shajmohan, Sub-Inspector, Pettah, identified the main accused in the case as I.P. Binu, a functionary of the DYFI in the Palayam area.
The victim, M. Radhakrishnan, is joint secretary of the Kannamoola Residents' Association Federation of Thiruvananthapuram. He was a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for 14 years. He was suspended from the primary membership of the party in 2008 on the charge of promoting factionalism in the Pettah unit of the party.
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Threat to kill
Mr. Radhakrishnan said in his complaint that around 10 persons, five of them wearing masks and all armed with machetes, barged into his house at around 9 p.m. Only his aging mother, wife and six-month-old daughter were at home. The attackers smashed all the light bulbs and destroyed furniture and other domestic utensils, including electronic items.
One of the trespassers held a sword to the neck of Mr. Radhakrishnan's daughter and threatened to kill her. Mr. Radhakrishnan, proofreader for a regional daily, was not at home.
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The police said they had booked Mr. Binu and nine others on the charges of trespass, rioting and violation of the Arms Act.
Mr. Radhakrishnan told the police that at least three of the attackers were from Cherakulam colony.
An official said political rivalry could be the reason for the attack. Mr. Radhakrishnan is also a member of the police department's neighbourhood watch scheme.
Arrest sought
Office-bearers of the association met here on Sunday and demanded immediate arrest of the accused.
They said the attack had caused a scare in the locality and that law-abiding citizens depended on the police to protect their lives and property.