Six people were injured over a political feud in Kerala's Malappuram district on Saturday, that reportedly took place between AP and EK factions of Sunnis, who were backed by the CPI(M) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) respectively.
The incident took place around 10am, during a procession for Milad-un-Nabi at Unniyal near Tirur.
Quoting the police, the Deccan Chronicle reported that a group of alleged CPM activists attacked some of the people who were part of the procession, organised by Misbahul Huda Madrasa, alleging that some of the participants were accused in recent political clashes.
The Madrasa belonged to a faction backed by the IUML, the DC report said, adding that the injured were admitted to Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.
The Hindu reported that some children too sustained injuries in the violence. Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala demanded a judicial probe into the attack, and accused the CPI(M) of working like the B-team of the Sangh Parivar.
Meanwhile, the IUML has called for a day-long hartal in certain parts of the district, following which the police have beefed up security.
Media reports add that extra forces were deployed in Unniyal, as it is a sensitive area. The police said that no arrests had been made so far, and the investigation was ongoing.
Political violence is now new to Kerala, as the state witnesses several such cases each year.
Last month, a CPI (M) party worker Sasikumar had a narrow escape in Thiruvananthapuram, after two bike-borne assailants hacked him. The attackers were allegedly workers of the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The police suspect that the attack on Sasi could be a continuation of the tension between the CPI(M) and SDPI.