Flex boards and banners on CPI (M) Kannur District Secretary P Jayarajan’s battle against death is a common sight in Kerala’s Kannur district. The boards show pictures of a grievously wounded Jayarajan lying in hospital. The picture, a reminder of the violence is often accompanied by a message on his will power that brought him back to life.
On an Onam day, in August 1999, assailants attacked Jayarajan near his home at Kizhakke Kathiroor with axes, knives, cleavers and machetes. Jayarajan’s spinal cord, limbs and chest sustained grievous injuries and he almost died in the alleged attack by RSS cadres. Around 30 assailants attacked him in front of his house; his right hand that was chopped off was sutured back, but remains immobile.
Eighteen years after the dastardly attack, which triggered many counter attacks by the CPI (M), P Jayarajan has been allegedly threatened again. This time a threat that he would lose his other hand too was made during the BJP’s Jan Raksha Yathra in Kannur. A video of BJP workers shouting the slogan, “Otta Kayya Jayaraja, Matte Kayyum Kaanilla,” (the one handed Jayaraja, you won’t see the other hand too) has surfaced. The slogans were allegedly raised when the march passed through Koothuparamba of Kannur.
BJP’s Jan Raksha Yathra was meant to be a protest against political violence unleashed by the CPI (M) in Kannur district. The Facebook Live video of Koothuparamba march was posted by former BJP state President V Muraleedharan, which triggered a controversy, leading to a case being filed against him on Sunday.
A case has been filed against Muraleedharan under section IPC 506 (criminal intimidation), IPC 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot—if rioting be committed—if not committed) and IPC 120 A (agreement to commit an offence).
“The case has been registered based on the complaint filed by CPI (M) in Koothuparamba. Case is against V Muraleedharan and also against BJP workers who were in the rally,” Koothuparamaba SHO A Ishith told The News Minute.
However, V Muraleedharan reacted saying that CPI (M) was trying to scare him by taking a fake case against him.
“I am not scared to go to jail in the fake case by CPI (M). This is not first time I am been charged. CPI (M) lives in fool’s paradise. Will explain about the incident which lead them to take case later,” Muraleedharan told media.