The Chakkarakal police have registered a case against seven Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] workers following a complaint that Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) activist Kakkan Shaiju and his wife K. Reeja were assaulted after their house was allegedly attacked at Chirathumkandy in Peralassery, Kannur, Kerala on Sunday night.
Those named in the FIR include CPI(M) Peralassery local committee member K. Mahesh and party workers N.K. Biju, Lajeesh Chathoth, K.C. Sunilkumar, P.K. Sashi and two others. The incident reportedly occurred around 7.30 p.m. Mr. Shaiju and Ms. Reeja, who sustained injuries, are undergoing treatment at a hospital.
According to the complaint, the attack was politically motivated, stemming from resentment over the recent local body election results. Ms. Reeja, a BJP candidate in ward 13 (Mundaloor) and president of Chakkaral Mandalam Mahila Morcha, had secured second place with 169 votes. Mr. Shaiju alleged that the accused had earlier issued threats, damaged windowpanes and later assaulted them at their residence.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) has rejected the allegations. Edakkad area secretary M.K. Murali claimed that the incident arose when party workers went to question Mr. Shaiju over allegedly abusing an autorickshaw driver. He alleged that Mr. Shaiju, in an inebriated state, brandished a knife and attempted to attack Mr. Mahesh. Ms. Reeja reportedly suffered a cut on her palm while party workers tried to snatch the knife, he said, adding that the “assault narrative was fabricated later.”
Mr. Murali further alleged that Mr. Shaiju, while intoxicated, had earlier abused CPI(M) worker Uma at her house and also verbally attacked local residents in public places. The CPI(M) Edakkad area committee accused the BJP of attempting to “disturb communal harmony in the otherwise peaceful Peralassery region.”
Countering this, BJP Kannur South district president Biju Elakkuzhi alleged that CPI(M) workers attacked the house out of frustration over Ms. Reeja’s electoral performance. He made the statement after visiting the injured couple at the hospital.
BJP State Committee member N. Haridas, Chakkarakkal Mandalam president Vipin Ayyar Kulam and Thalassery Mandalam president K Lijesh were also present.
In view of the tensions, the police have been camping in the area to prevent any further law and order issues.
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