RSS Attacks CPI(M) Procession in Kerala's Kannur, Injures 10 Party Activists

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has once again resorted to attacks against Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists in Kerala in the backdrop of the BJP’s Jana Raksha Yatra. On Sunday evening, RSS workers allegedly hurled crude bombs on a CPI(M) procession in Panoor in Kannur district, injuring more than 10 party activists, including women.

The CPI(M) activists were peacefully protesting at Kaivelikkal Village in Panoor area against the RSS attack which ended up in the destruction of the Panoor Area conference coordination committee office and campaign materials.

According to local sources, RSS workers rushed into the procession in a sudden burst and attacked CPI(M) workers including women. More than 50 RSS workers were involved in the attack. Apart from crude bombs, they carried sword-like weapons too. Six bombs were reportedly hurled at the procession.

CPI(M) Puthur Local Committee member EM Ashokan suffered injuries on his face, neck and hands. CPI(M) Kunummal Branch secretary Bhaskaran, and Amboonteparambath Chandran were admitted in the Thalassery Cooperative Hospital.

CPI(M) Local committee member PP Sindhu, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) Panoor Block Vice president KP Lajisha, All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) activist K Shantha, Student's Federation of India (SFI) activist Nandana, CPI(M) activists Balan K, and K Mohanan have been admitted in Panoor Taluk hospital.

According to the police, the injured persons who were admitted to various hospitals in the district were out of danger.

A tense situation was prevailing in Panoor and Thalassery areas of the district due to RSS’s series of attacks on CPI(M) activists. The attacks took place after the completion of the Kannur leg of the Jana Raksha Yatra led by BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan on Friday.

Political observers note that while the BJP is campaigning nation-wide against CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala, the saffron party itself has been attacking CPI(M) offices in various locations. On Friday morning, RSS and BJP workers tried to attack the CPI(M) office at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

It is reported that about 200 people led by North Andhra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC, Maadhav assembled in front of the CPI(M) office and tried to attack the office. But the CPI(M) activists, who had gathered around the office fruitfully, prevented the attempt.

Condemning BJP's attack on CPI(M) office, the CPI(M) organised a protest at Ranasthalam on Saturday. B. Krishnamurthy, D. Govinda Rao and other CPI(M) leaders who addressed the protest condemned the attack.

Referring to “RSS terrorism” in Kerala, they said that more than 100 activists of CPI(M) have been killed in the state because of the “communal tension created by the BJP and the RSS in the State”.