Clashes rock Thiruvananthapuram post mayor attack

Thiruvananthapuram: Clashes allegedly involving workers of CPM, BJP and  SDPI were reported in the capital on Sunday, triggering fears of another episode of political violence visiting the capital city.  It started with an attack on a former CPM branch committee member by two unidentified men allegedly affiliated to SDPI Kattakada in the morning. He escaped the bid on his life after being clubbed.  In the second incident, seven BJP workers were arrested in the evening after they pelted stones at the CPM district committee office while holding a protest. 

In the third incident, CPM workers who took out a rally vandalised BJP-SNDP banners at Karikkakom. The right wing activists were distributing porridge to Ayyappa pilgrims there. In retaliation, they ganged up and assaulted CPM's Elankom branch committee members Sunil Kumar, Aneesh, Arun Das and Pradeep who were later admitted to the general hospital. Meanwhile, the CCTV visuals of the attack at Kattakada have gone viral. The victim identified as Sasikumar, an agent of CPM mouthpiece Deshabhimani, was admitted with serious injuries at the critical care unit (CCU) of Medical College Hospital. 

The CCTV visuals showed the attackers chasing motorcycle-borne Sasikumar at 6 am. He was hit with an iron rod on his shoulder. He fell  down along with the bike due to the impact. The suspects chased him, pulled away his dhoti and clubbed him again before he could escape to safety. Though SDPI claimed that they were not involved  in the case, the local police has identified the suspects as active members of the organisation. An all-party meeting will be convened by Nedumangadu DySP to ensure peace at Kattakada.  

The unrest continues at Kattakada despite high police deployment in the area following tensions. State police chief Loknath Behera met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and apprised him on the situation.  On Saturday night, unidentified activists had attacked the house of DYFI district secretary I. Saju at Kattakada. In retaliation, a tempo van was destroyed. The violent incidents in the district began soon after CPM-SDPI clashes at Chavara in the nearby district of Kollam.