KANNUR/KOZHIKODE: Widespread incidents of violence were reported from northern Kerala districts after the election results came on Thursday. One CPM worker was killed while six others were seriously injured in a crude bomb attack allegedly by the BJP-RSS workers on an LDF victory rally in Pinarayi.
District collector P. Bala Kiran clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in the district for the next 24 hours. The LDF has declared hartal in Pinarayi, Vengad, Kottayam and Dharmadam panchayats in protest on Friday. The deceased was identified as K. Raveendran, 55. of Pinarayi Cherickal.
Reports said a group of miscreants hurled multiple bombs at the LDF victory procession including women and children at Pinarayi Company Metta. As the people were scattered by the bomb attack, a mini truck allegedly drove by the miscreants ran over Mr Raveendran and dragged his body to a few metres away.
Sayooj, Liju, Prasoon, Sooraj, Nitheesh, Adarsh and Nived are the CPM workers admitted in Thalassery Co-Operative Hospital following the attack. Mr Sayooj is in ICU in a critical condition, according to hospital sources. CPM leaders Pinarayi Vijayan, P.K. Sreemathi, M.V. Jayarajan and K.K. Ragesh, visited them in the hospital.
Police said clashes were reported from other parts of the district too. At Karetta in Kuthuparamba police station limits, CPM and BJP workers hurled bombs at each other and party offices. Unconfirmed sources said a BJP worker was admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH) with serious stab wounds.
One CPM worker was stabbed in Kozhikode during the victory celebrations. Iyyankode Nediyandi Libesh (24), was injured in his head in an attack near the library in Iyyankode near Othayoth Mukku, Nadapuram. He was taken to Nadapuram Government Hospital and later shifted to MCH considering the seriousness of the wound. CPM workers alleged that the RSS was behind the attack.
Arun Chenindi (19) and Vishnu Alasserykandi (20) were attacked while riding a bike near Jathiyeri. Some others, including women, were injured in stone pelting at Nadapuram. In Vanimel, vehicles parked on the premises of the houses were destroyed and windowpanes damaged in stone pelting. The BJP has called for a hartal in Nadapuram on Friday in protest.
Kasaragod district collector E. Devadas also issued prohibitory orders in Hosdurg, Kasargod and Manjeswaram taluks for one week. Restrictions are in place to a gathering of more than five persons, keeping arms and ammunition and conducting rallies and public meetings.
The violence first broke out in Kasargod town with widespread stone pelting on the victory rallies of IUML workers. The bus service to Kasargod town was partially affected for hours. The violence later spread to Vidyanagar. Police used grenade and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. One youth injured seriously in stone pelting was admitted to hospital in Mangalore.
