Kozhikode: Kodenchery Kallathramed CPM branch secretary Thampi Thettalil and five others were arrested after they surrendered at the Kodenchery police station on Thursday in connection with the attack on a pregnant woman and her family over a land dispute on January 28. Sibi Chacko and his wife Jyolsna Sibi of Velamkod Lakshamveedu colony were attacked by the group and her four-month pregnancy was aborted following the injuries suffered by her.
As she started bleeding, she was rushed to the government MCH where she was under treatment for a week. Their children were also present at the house at the time of the attack. The others arrested are Prajeesh’s mother Sarasu (60), Joy Puthenkandathil (40), Saidalavi Malanparambil (40) and Binoy Valiya Parambil. They were produced before Thamarassery JFCM-2 and remanded for 14 days. According to Sibi, a container lorry driver in Kochi, there were land disputes between them and the family of Naklikkattu Kudiyil Prajeesh, son of Gopalan.
Prajeesh Gopalan, a CPM member, was arrested after the incident but the police were hesitant to nab the rest. The family had been protesting in front of the police station by erecting a temporary shed alleging that the police had not arrested all the accused under CPM pressure. Sibi said that there were also efforts to settle the case with mediators. However, the Congress and the BJP took up the matter and supported the family.
