CPM worker attacked by suspected SDPI activists
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A CPM activist was allegedly hacked by two unidentified persons suspected to be SDPI activists on a public road in the morning at Kattakada here on Sunday. Sasikumar, a former CPM branch committee member, suffered serious injuries and was admitted to the critical care unit of the Medical College Hospital.
The incident took place around 6 am when Sasikumar who is also a newspaper agent of ‘Deshabhimani’ daily, was on the way to distribute newspapers on a motorcycle. Soon a two-member team came on a motorcycle and the pillion rider hacked Sasikumar. He immediately fell on the road and tried to run away. But, the attacker chased after him and hacked him again. However, the victim managed to escape.
The Kattakada police has registered a case in connection with the incident and a probe was initiated to trace the culprits. The CPM local committee alleged the assailants were members of the SDPI. The police suspect the same as there has been some tension prevailing in Kattakada in the past two days.
On Saturday, the residence of DYFI district secretary I Saju was allegedly vandalised by a team also suspected to have connections with the SDPI. A tempo van was also torched in retaliation on Saturday. A huge battalion of police personnel has been deployed at Kattakada.
Speaking to Express, Rural SP P Asok Kumar, said the investigation is on to trace the culprits. “We received prima facie information the culprits are active members of the SDPI. However, we can confirm this only after taking them into custody. Besides, we suspect more persons are involved in the conspiracy to attack him,” said Asok.
A CCTV footage of the incident which went viral on social media shows the two attackers pushing the victim down from his motorcycle. Meanwhile, the SDPI denied involvement in the incident.
The two political parties are in a standoff following a clash at Chavara in Kollam district three days ago. Though the SDPI called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal, it was called off by the party citing PSC examinations.
SDPI activists arrested
T’Puram: The Kattakada police have arrested four SDPI workers in connection with allegedly attacking CPM activists the other day. The arrested are identified as Shamnad, 33, of Kottapuram; Abu Backer, 59, of Kottapuram, Sudheer, 39, of Kottapuram and Sabeer, 29, of Kollode. According to the police, they had been arrested for assaulting CPM activists Harikumar and Manoj at Kottapuram on Saturday evening. The police said it was suspected to be a continuation of political tension after the attack on I Saju’s residence.