Kochi: Centre of Indian Trade Unions Ernakulam district president and CPM district Committee member K.N. Gopinath was stabbed by a person on Tuesday at Palarivattom. Vadakara native Unnikrishnan stabbed Gopinath who was walking towards Palarivattom junction after addressing the gathering at a protest march against Uber service, taken out by CITU auto, drivers’ union. Eyewitness account reveal that 45-year-old Unnikrishnan came from behind and got hold of Gopinath. He stabbed Gopinath in neck using a country made knife. Auto drivers who attended the protest nabbed him.
Unnikrishnan was handed over to the police. Police later recorded the arrest and took him to custody for interrogation. According to police the accused deposed that Unnikrishnan has a strong dislike towards the Communist party. “We are conducting a thorough probe into the case. Primary investigation shows that the accused carried out the attack as a revenge against the CPM,” Ernakulam North CI Vijayan T.B. said. Police added that the accused worked in various firms in Kochi and at present he is seeking a job in Middle East.
Cops slapped 307 IPC (attempt to murder) against Unnikrishnan. Party sympathisers and auto drivers who attended the protest march took Gopinath to a private hospital in Kochi soon after the incident. Gopinath underwent a surgery as he suffered a deep cut in neck. Hospital authorities confirmed that Gopinath is recovering from his injury and at present his condition is stable. CPM district Committee meanwhile issued a press release deploring the attack on Gopinath.
CPM district secretary P Rajeev claimed that the attacker was intending to kill Gopinath. "The attack was carried out soon after he inaugurated the strike against online taxi service in City. Party is considering this as a serious attack. Locals have nabbed the accused soon after the incident. We are hopeful that police will conduct a thorough and scientific investigation into the attack. Area committees of left parties conducted protest marches in various parts of the city protesting the attack.
