Kottayam: The CPI’s heavyweight MLA, Ms E.S. Bijimol, had a brush with the law when she allegedly manhandled Idukki Additional District Magistrate Moncy P. Alexander over the re-installation of the gate of a rubber and tea company at Peruvanthanam, near Mundakkyam, on Friday.
Mr Alexander apparently suffered a fracture on his right leg. The Peruvanthanam police registered a case against the Peerumedu MLA and 300 people for unlawful assembly and obstructing the ADM from carrying out his duty.
The ADM filed a complaint with the police that the MLA had pushed him while executing a High Court order to reinstall the gate of the Travancore Rubber and Tea Company at Peruvanthanam, which was removed by him on July 1 without knowing about a stay order from the court.
The ADM was pushed aside by Ms Bijimol and his legs were injured in the commotion. He was first admitted to the Peerumedu taluk hospital and later referred to the Kottayam medical college hospital.
The MLA allegedly slapped the ADM on his face, but the police said the ADM had not mentioned about any physical attack.
Ms Bijimol said she was only trying to save the ADM from the ire of the public. Protesting against the attack, the revenue officials in Idukki went on a pen-down stir and planned to take mass casual leave on Saturday.
“On Friday, when the ADM and other officials went to the spot to reinstall the gate as per the HC order, a group of people led by Ms Bijimol obstructed the ADM,” said Mr Saifudhin, sub-inspector of Peruvanthanam police station.
The public had sought removal of the gate for easy access to the estate and the nearby places. Idukki district Collector V. Ratheeshan said, “we were executing the court order. They could have approached me if they had any grievances. Instead they took law into their hands,” he added. Kottayam MCH Superintendent Dr Tiji Thomas told Deccan Chronicle that the Idukki ADM Moncy P Alexander suffered a fracture in his right ankle. This has been confirmed in the x-ray, he added.
