A senior BJP leader was attacked by an unidentified gang while he was taking a morning walk here on Sunday.
M R Gandhi (68) of Chidambaranathan Street near Ramavarmapuram is a member of the State Executive Committee of the party and contested in the 2011 Assembly elections from Kanyakumari constituency but lost the seat.
On Sunday, around 6 am, while Gandhi was taking his usual morning walk on Ranithottam Road, two men on a motorcycle attacked him with a sharp weapon.
He was admitted to a private hospital in the town. Nesamony Nagar Police registered an FIR and have begun investigations in to the matter.
According to the investigating officer, when Gandhi was nearing the Bishop House, two men who were attending to repairs on a bike identified the BJP leader to two other motorcycle-borne men, who attacked him with a sharp weapon and made good their escape.
Gandhi, who sustained injuries in the rear portion of his neck, started bleeding and was rushed to a private hospital by passersby.
He is now out of danger and recuperating, the officer added.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police N Manivannan, after visiting Gandhi in the hospital, told Express over phone that four special teams had been formed to crack the case. “We have clues and will nab the culprits soon,” he said.
Earlier, on hearing the news about the attack, hundreds of BJP cadre from the district gathered at the private hospital where Gandhi was admitted.
Later, they staged a road roko on the Collectorate — Parvathipuram Road in front of the hospital, seeking immediate arrest of the culprits behind the attack.
On information of the agitation, olice rushed to the spot and pacified the protestors who dispersed later.