THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The city witnessed violent incidents late on Sunday after CPM and BJP workers clashed with each other. The violence was reported following the protest marches taken out by both the parties in connection with the Corporation office incident involving the attack on Mayor V K Prasanth. Four DYFI workers suffered serious injuries after they were allegedly assaulted by RSS workers at Karikkakom near Pettah around 7 pm.
The injured have been identified as Arun Das, Sunilkumar, Pradeep and Aneesh and they have been admitted to the General Hospital. Their condition is said to be stable, according to hospital sources.
According to the Pettah police, the incident could be a retaliation to the attack on the BJP flags at Edavacode near Sreekariyam on Saturday night.
The police said the CPM workers had allegedly vandalised a ‘pandal’ of the Ayyappa Seva Sangham. This also triggered a tension at the spot leading to a major clash. Meanwhile, tension prevailed in front of the CPM district committee office at Mettukada after a BJP activist allegedly hurled a stone at the office on Sunday. The glass covering of a statue was damaged. According to Thampanoor police, they have started efforts to trace the culprit. The police said the incident took place around 8 pm when a BJP protest march was progressing on the road in front of the district committee office.
Though a battalion of police was stationed at the spot, they could not stop the assailants unleashing violence. The culprits reportedly ran away after the incident. The police said seven suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the incident. The police are maintaining strict vigil both in the city as well as in rural limits following the untoward developments. CPM district leadership has announced they will organise district-wide agitations on Monday in protest against the violence they have been facing for the past few days.
‘Bid to create violence’
After visiting the district committee office, Devaswom, Tourism and Cooperation Minister Kadakampally Surendran said BJP and RSS workers are consciously trying to create violence. “The BJP is deliberately creating violence. The attack on the Mayor was uncalled for. There is a serious lapse from the police on giving enough security to district committee office,” he said.