The city has come under heavy police cover following attacks unleashed allegedly by CPI(M) and BJP workers on houses of rival party workers, leading to widespread destruction.
Prohibitory orders have been enforced in the city for three days with City Police Commissioner G. Sparjan Kumar invoking Section 79 of the Kerala Police Act. In view of the prevailing tension, all forms of demonstrations, protest marches, and meetings have been prohibited in the city during the period.
Security stepped up
Besides mobilising the entire force attached to various police stations in the city, the police have also deployed an additional force of around 450 personnel. Security measures have been stepped up at the offices of political parties and the residences of prominent leaders.
The district administration has issued orders to remove flex boards and other materials that have been erected by political parties.
Special team
Moreover, a special team has been constituted to bring to book all those who were responsible for the violence.
Following the destruction of an SFI flag pole at Iranimuttom, violence erupted in the Chala, Manacaud, and Attukal areas.
The residences of DYFI leader Unni, BJP district secretary and Corporation councillor R.C. Beena, CPI(M) Chala area secretary S.A. Sundar, CPI(M) councillor Raziya Beegum, and BJP councillors S.K.P. Ramesh and Simi Jyothish came under attack. CITU Manacaud area secretary Shyam was admitted to the General Hospital after being attacked, allegedly by BJP activists, with sharp objects.
Besides attacks on the BJP State committee office and CPI(M) State unit secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s son Bineesh Kodiyeri’s house, the SFI State committee office was also vandalised. The police later recovered an unexploded crude bomb, which was suspected to have been hurled at the office building.
According to senior police officials, the violence is being perceived either as an escalation of clashes that were reported in the rural parts of the district, including Kattakada, or as connected to the recent incidents that had taken place at the MG College.
As many as 11 political activists have been arrested by the City police in connection with the incidents.
These include Kunnukuzhy ward councillor I.P. Binu of the CPI(M), SFI district secretary Prathin Saj Krishna, and SFI office-bearers Sukesh and Jerin on the charge of attacking the BJP office.
Non-bailable charges
They were identified on the basis of CCTV visuals and were arrested for non-bailable offences and booked under various provisions, including Sections 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from duty) and Section 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code.
The Fort police arrested seven persons, including DYFI activist Rahul and Yuva Morcha activists Vishnu, Nishanth, Vivek, Vivek Kumar, Mukesh, and Nidheesh Mohan in connection with the attacks at Chala, Manacaud and Attukal.