Tension prevailed in Panur and nearby areas here following fresh bout of political violence on Tuesday. Bombs were hurled at the vehicle of O.K. Vasu, former district president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]. A CPI(M) worker was seriously injured in another attack.
According to the police, a CPI(M) activist, N.P. Vijesh, 30, was stabbed by a group of suspected BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers at his house at around 6.30 a.m. One of his legs was nearly severed in the attack. Having received multiple stab injuries in the attack, Vijesh was rushed to the Cooperative Hospital at Thalassery and from there to a private hospital in Kozhikode. The assailants had attacked him with sharp weapons while he was reading newspaper at his house.
Mr. Vasu, who resides in the area, came under bomb attack when he was on his way to Vijesh’s house in his car as soon as he heard about the incident. The police said that two bombs were hurled on the car when it reached Central Poyiloor. Mr. Vasu and others in the car escaped unhurt. The vehicle suffered damages in the bomb attack.
Two autorickshaws belonging to a CPI(M) worker were torched by suspected BJP-RSS workers at Poyiloor at around noon.
The CPI(M) observed hartal on Tuesday in protest against the attacks. A BJP worker identified as K.K. Dineshan was attacked by alleged CPI(M) workers in the morning. His lorry also came under attack.
Senior police officers, including Additional Director General of Police (North Zone) N. Shanker Reddy and District Police Chief P.N. Unnirajan, visited the area and assessed the law and order situation in the Panur area. A large posse of police personnel has been deployed in the area, the police said adding that the situation was still very tense.
The police clamped prohibitory orders under Sections 78 and 79 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011, in many parts within the Kolavallur police station limits, including Central Poyiloor and Thoovakkunnu.
The outbreak of violence on Tuesday was a continuation of clashes between rival CPI(M) and BJP-RSS workers in the area over the past few days. The police said that BJP-RSS workers returning after a public function organised by the Sangh Parivar in the area had come under attack, allegedly by CPI(M) workers.
