THRISSUR: Four DYFI activists were arrested on Tuesday on charges of vandalising Indira Gandhi statue at Peechi.The arrested are Jithin, 28, of Asharikkad, Lijo, 23, Janeesh, 26, Ajay Kumar, 26.
The incident took place on January 20, when LDF and Congress activists entered into clash with each other. Police had interfered before the situation could escalate. Later on that night, the DYFI members had vandalised the statue.
According to police, the perpetrators were under the influence of alcohol when the crime was committed.
According to Ollur MLA MP Vincent, the incident was politically motivated and staged with the upcoming local body elections in mind. “Peechi and nearby areas have always been a stronghold of the Congress. There have also been several issues of contention between the parties at the panchayat level,” he said.
This is the second time that the same statue is being attacked. The statue was vandalised the first time on the occasion of protests against the Koothuparamba shootings, when five DYFI activists were shot dead by the police in Kannur.