THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the capital city plunged into political turbulence as the activists of the CPM and the BJP went on an attacking spree, the city police took three BJP activists into the custody for allegedly attacking the residence of Bineesh Kodiyeri, son of CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
According to Poojappura police, the activists were taken into custody on suspicion and the police were yet to record their arrest. “We have taken three men into custody. But that doesn’t mean they are the culprits. We need to gather preliminary evidence to prove they are guilty. The interrogation is on and the arrest will be recorded after confirmation,” said a police officer.
The police also retrieved the footage from the CCTV cameras installed on Bineesh’s house premises in which the miscreants were seen arriving on four motorcycles. The attack occurred soon after the attack on the state committee office of the BJP, allegedly by CPM activists.
The city police had arrested 11 activists belonging to the CPM and the BJP in connection with the political clashes. The arrested persons included CPM corporation councillor I P Binu and SFI district secretary Prajin Saj Krishna. All of them were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.
Among the arrested, Binu, Prajin, Jerin and Sukesh were accused of attacking the BJP office while the remaining persons were BJP activists detained for attacking the houses of CPM councillors.
Meanwhile, stray incidents of violence were reported from Kattakada and Kollayil panchayat near Parassala on Friday night and Saturday morning respectively.
Cop to be rewarded
Thiruvananthapuram range IG Manoj Abraham announced a reward for the policeman who single handedly fought the assailants during the attack on the BJP state committee office. Prathin Jayakumar, a civil police officer attached to Museum police station, will be presented with R5,000 as a token of appreciation. The officer is presently undergoing treatment at the General hospital and the IG visited him at the hospital. On Friday, City Police Commissioner G Sparjan Kumar suspended two police officers for allegedly remaining mute spectators to the attack on the BJP office. “The investigation into the incident is progressing impartially. The government is supporting us. All the culprits will be booked”, State Police Chief Loknath Behera told mediapersons.