In yet another incident possibly sparked by political rivalry, three RSS workers were attacked in Kozhikode on Saturday allegedly by workers of the CPI (M).
RSS’s Keezhariyur Mandalam Karyawahak, Sudheesh, and two of his relatives Rahul and Bineesh, were attacked at Keezhariyur around 5pm. According to the police, Sudheesh’s injury is serious but the other two have minor injuries. The three have been admitted to the Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.
“Rahul and Bineesh are the relatives of Sudheesh. In a complaint filed by the RSS local leader, it is alleged that the CPI (M) is behind the attacks. The probe in the case is progressing,” the police said.
According to reports, there were 15 people in the group which attacked the RSS men. The police have registered case against ten people who could be identified and five who couldn’t be. On Thursday night, CPM Vishnumangalam Branch Committee office was set on fire allegedly by the RSS workers. Hours before that, the RSS office at Kallachi, which is near Vishnumangalam, was attacked.
According to the CPI (M) District Committee Office, Kozhikode, the fire began at the Branch Committee Office of Vishnumangalam around 8pm. At the time, no persons were present in the office. However, the entire interior was burnt, including all the furniture inside.
In the past few months, a wave of frequent attacks and murders of political activists of the CPI (M) and of the BJP and RSS have taken place. Parallel to this a vicious war of allegations and counter-allegations has been waged between the two sides, as each blames the other for the frequent attacks.
Most recently, Kerala BJP leader K Surendran landed in a soup when he made a speech boasting about the BJP retaliating to every attack of the CPI (M). Following this, CPI (M) MLA Swaraj filed a complaint alleging that the BJP could be behind killings of 30 SFI and DYFI members during the last UDF regime.