Kollam: Kerala Labour Minister Shibu Baby John and a Left candidate were injured as violence erupted during an election debate organised by a television channel, with irate people pelting stones and hurling chairs.
Baby, who is contesting the May 16 assembly polls from Chavara seat, suffered injuries on his right hand in the incident that occurred at Chavara on Thursday.
He was immediately rushed to a private hospital and was later discharged. LDF candidate Vijayan Pillai, who was also participating in the debate, too was injured and has been hospitalised.
As the debate over drinking water shortage heated up, the participants got agitated after the Minister's response and started hurling stones and chairs. Police said two cases have been registered against UDF and LDF supporters for rioting and under sect 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC. Shibu Baby John of the RSP is Congress-UDF candidate.
