KOLLAM: A voter fainted and died while standing in the queue to vote at Kottarakkara on Monday while a CPM candidate was attacked in Perinad panchayat in the wee hours of Monday.
The voter was identified as Vasudevan, 65, of Vendar ward in Kulakkada panchayat. He was taken to a nearby hospital but was declared brought dead.
The candidate, Lettuce Jerome, of ward No. 18 in Perinad panchayat here sustained head injuries in the attack by a group of unidentified people around 1.30 in the morning. The CPM alleged that RSS men were behind the incident.
The attack occurred while he was with the party workers near the polling station. A four-member gang that came in two motorcycles wearing helmets assaulted him from behind using wooden sticks. He was treated in a hospital and his condition was stable.
“The police registered a case based on a complaint by the candidate. According to him, four men who came on motorcycles attacked him. However, he could not identify the culprits,” said Mr R. Suresh, CI Kollam West.
