KOTTAYAM: After a short respite, political violence has turned the district once again tense, especially its Northern region. A series of political clashes between the BJP and the CPM activists since the Thiruvonam day has created panic in Kumarakom. It reached its peak on Sunday, when a BJP sympathiser reportedly went missing in Vembanad backwaters allegedly during a police action.
The ‘missing man,’ Vysakh, 22, of Asarimattom colony, was later found near the Lake. It all started on Friday when a group of BJP sympathisers in Asarimattom Colony entered into an argument with two bikers owing allegiance to the CPM, for alleged over-speeding. When CPM Kumarakom local secretary M N Pushkaran reached the spot to enquire about the incident, BJP activists allegedly manhandled him. However, timely intervention of the police averted a flare-up. Later, on Saturday night, Pushkaran’s house was attacked and his car was damaged by unidentified persons. Based on a complaint filed by him, Kumarakom police reached the colony on Sunday around 11 am. Seeing the police, three persons jumped into the Vembanad Lake and Vysakh had reportedly gone missing. The agitated mob laid siege to the police vehicle and blocked the Kottayam-Kumarakom Road for more than two hours. Vysakh was later spotted at a nearby place. CPM district secretary V N Vasavan alleged that the ‘missing’ incident was a ploy of the BJP leaders. “They are trying to unleash troubles across the state ahead of the local body elections,” he said. Meanwhile, BJP local leader Ettumanoor Radhakrishnan said the CPM was instigating violence for fear of losing its sympathisers.
In a similar incident, BJP-RSS members clashed with Congress and CPM sympathisers at Vettichira Colony in Aymanam on Saturday.