Knife-wielding man charges to Pinarayi Vijayan's room in Delhi, arrested

Security officers of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were in for a shock as a man wielding a knife tried to enter the Kerala House premises in New Delhi, just ahead of the CM's press meet. The incident happened around 10 am on Saturday when a middle aged Malayali man pulled out a knife and came closer to CM Pinarayi, stating that he wanted to commit suicide.

The CM was exiting the Kerala house in Delhi to go for the CPI (M) polit buro meeting when the incident took place, a close source told TNM. The man stood with journalists who were waiting near the Chief Minister's room and when questioned if he was a journalist, he took a knife from his bag. The man then went near the CM's room and threatened that he would commit suicide. Though Kerala House staff tried to overpower him, they could not. Later, the CM's security officers came and dragged the man out.

"The man is identified as Vimalraj, a native of Chetttikulangara in Alappuzha and has been living in Delhi. Years ago, he attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself from a tree near the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. The time too he pulled out a lot of papers and files asking for a job and then, all of a sudden, pulled out the knife," the source added.

The accused was immediately seized by the CM's security officers. However, the incident is considered to be a major lapse in the security provided to the Chief Minister.

According to reports, CM Pinarayi was addressing a press meet in Kerala House in Delhi where he was staying. It was during the press meet that the man entered the premises. He carried a bag with several papers and a knife hidden inside. When the security officers, on sensing something wrong, questioned the accused, he allegedly charged forward with the knife.

"He said he was not getting a job and there no way to sustain himself and his family," the source told TNM.

Among the list of accusations he relayed, the man reportedly shouted that he is going to die and that although he wants to work, the chief minister is not allowing him to do so and therefore he has no means to live.

Speaking loudly in Hindi, the accused was brandishing a knife and threatening to take his own life when the security officials took him down.

He is currently being questioned by authorities in the capital.