He stood defiantly, rod in hand, in front of the BJP office in the middle of the night. He threatened and assaulted a policeman who was doing his duty. He led a group of men to attack the political rival’s office, pelted stones and vandalised cars.
Over 15 hours after IP Binu was caught on CCTV camera attacking the BJP office in Thiruvananthapuram, the CPI (M) counselor has been arrested.
Screengrab from CCTV footage
Binu, and three other CPI (M) members, were held by the police on Friday, hours after a series of attacks rocked the political landscape of Thiruvananthapuram.
Multiple attacks were carried out, on the BJP office and on the residences of several CPI (M) and BJP leaders.
Binu, who represents the Kunnukuzhi ward in Thiruvananthapuram, was seen riding pillion on a bike that stopped outside the BJP office at 1.19 am in the wee hours of Friday. He then proceeded to vandalise the office with his men, as three of the four policemen on duty just stood around, afraid.
City police commissioner G Sparjan Kumar confirmed the arrest to TNM.
“Four people have been arrested including IP Binu. They will be produced before the court on Friday evening itself. All the four are CPI (M) workers,” he said.
“They have been charged with section 452 and 332 of the IPC for house trespass and voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty,” the officer added.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) has suspended Binu and the other party workers involved in the attack. Party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in a press meet said that those who have been involved were suspended, pending investigation in the case.
Balakrishnan pointed a finger at BJP though for the attacks, saying, “The BJP with the attacks is trying to destabilise the government.”
Screengrab from CCTV footage
Earlier in the day, six BJP members were arrested in connection with the attacks on CPI (M) leaders.
The CCTV footage shows five people attacking the BJP office in the middle of the night. Three policemen were present at the spot but only one attempted to prevent the attack, the visuals show.
In the video, which lasted for two minutes and 11 seconds, two men can be seen arriving at the BJP office, of which one has been identified as IP Binu.
The overnight attacks were reported from Thiruvananthapuram and other parts of the state.