Thiruvanathapuran: Political violence rocked the Kerala capital on Thursday night with both the BJP and the CPI (M) blaming each other for attacks on offices and residences of party leaders.
Police have so far arrested eight people, belonging to the RSS and the CPI (M). Two swords have also been recovered.
Police said the clashes began over writings on flags and flag posts on Thursday evening. At first, stones were pelted at an ABVP worker’s house, then a Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader’s house was attacked. Later, the residences of councilors from both the factions, the state BJP office and the house of CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan were targeted.
Some people pelted stones at the BJP office in Thiruvanathapuran and damaged six vehicles parked outside the office. BJP’s Kerala president Kummanam Rajasekharan was in the building during the incident, party sources said.
BJP had released CCTV footage of the attack on their office. The visuals purportedly show CPI (M) councilor and DYFI leader I P Binu being involved in the attack.
It was also alleged that the policemen present at the scene didn't try to prevent the attack. Two policemen have been suspended for inaction.
Meanwhile, the CPI (M) has suspended Binu from the party pending inquiry. He has been taken into police custody.
Trivandrum Range IG , Manoj Abraham, told CNN-News 18 that eight accused have been arrested and they are on the lookout for 12 more.
“There were reports of police inaction and we have suspended them. We have registered eight non-bailable cases. Most of the accused have been identified through the CCTV footage and mobile tower location. We will book the leaders involved in planning the crime as conspirators. We have deployed eight teams to arrest the culprits," Abraham said.
Cases have been filed under sections of rioting, trespassing, destruction to property and criminal conspiracy.
Meanwhile, the political parties blamed each other for the attack. Senior BJP leader and former state president V Muraleedharan said that this is a breakdown of law and order in Kerala.
“After the initial attacks on the houses of councilors, police should have taken precautionary measures. The grave issue is that our party office was not attacked by street goons but a councillor of the CPI (M). In all these incidents, the police was a mute spectator or in a way supporting the act. The police had a clear direction from the government to look the other way when CPIM criminals are on the rampage."
When asked about the attack on the houses of CPI (M) councilors and leaders he said if the law enforcing agencies fail to protect people, then they tend to take law in their hands.
“CPI (M) is attacking us, we are defending. They initiated the attack against us, our workers retaliated when the police fail to protect them," he said, adding that if Balakrishnan is true to his word that the Left doesn’t support violence then he should expel the councilor.
However, Balakrishnan blamed BJP for the attacks. “These are planned attacks by the BJP-RSS. In the last two days, many such issues have occurred in Trivandrum. RSS is trying to create a law and order situation in the state. BJP is conducting such attacks to divert the attention from the medical college corruption issue."
He added that his house was attacked and it’s the first time a CPI (M) state secretary’s house has been targeted.
“Why is the BJP not condemning the attack on a CPI (M) state secretary’s house? We have condemned the attack on their office and party will take action against those involved. Are they ready to take such a stand?" asked Balakrishnan.
He also said that CPM workers should restrain themselves and that the party has given directions to workers to not retaliate.
Security has been beefed up at sensitive areas of the city as well as the offices of both the BJP and CPI (M).
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