The Chakkarakal police have registered a case against seven Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] workers following a complaint that Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) activist Kakkan Shaiju and his wife K. Reeja were assaulted after their house was allegedly attacked at Chirathumkandy in Peralassery, Kannur, Kerala on Sunday night.
Those named in the FIR include CPI(M) Peralassery local committee member K. Mahesh and party workers N.K. Biju, Lajeesh Chathoth, K.C. Sunilkumar, P.K. Sashi and two others. The incident reportedly occurred around 7.30 p.m. Mr. Shaiju and Ms. Reeja, who sustained injuries, are undergoing treatment at a hospital.
According to the complaint, the attack was politically motivated, stemming from resentment over the recent local body election results. Ms. Reeja, a BJP candidate in ward 13 (Mundaloor) and president of Chakkaral Mandalam Mahila Morcha, had secured second place with 169 votes. Mr. Shaiju alleged that the accused had earlier issued threats, damaged windowpanes and later assaulted them at their residence.
CPI(M) rejects charges
Meanwhile, CPI(M) has rejected the allegations. Edakkad area secretary M.K. Murali claimed that the incident arose when party workers went to question Mr. Shaiju over allegedly abusing an autorickshaw driver. He alleged that Mr. Shaiju, in an inebriated state, brandished a knife and attempted to attack Mr. Mahesh. Ms. Reeja reportedly suffered a cut on her palm while party workers tried to snatch the knife, he said, adding that the “assault narrative was fabricated later.”
