Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120352740300.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

Political violence spreads to Koyilandy taluk

Staff Reporter

Defunct office building of IUML set ablaze

Crude bombs hurled at building
Eight held for attacking police vehicle

Kozhikode: The political violence, till now confined to Vadakara taluk of the district, has spread to Koyilandy taluk.

A defunct office of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), near the Koyilandy railway gate, was set on fire allegedly by activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday morning. The incident is the latest in a series of violent clashes between the political parties.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Vadakara and Perambra rushed to the spot and doused the flames. Incidents of violence were reported from other places as well. The window panes of a shop and shutters of a cycle showroom were damaged when crude bombs were hurled at a two storey building in the town.

The fresh incidents were reportedly in retaliation to the attacks carried out allegedly by IUML workers on the CPI(M)’s area committee office at Koyilandy on Monday.

CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan visited the office on Tuesday. CPI(M) activists also took out a procession in the town in the evening.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) had given a hartal call on Tuesday. All shops and commercial establishments remained closed. Private vehicles kept off the roads and no major untoward incidents were reported.

A large posse of police personnel led by Superintendent of Police (Vadakara) K. Natarajan and Deputy Superintendent (Thamarassery) C.T. Tom was camping in the region. “Now the situation is under control. The public had been warned not to assemble anywhere. However, it is not a prohibitory order,” Mr. Natarajan said.

A vehicle carrying IUML workers was allegedly attacked by Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists at Kollam, near Koyilandy, at 9 p.m. on Monday.

More workers from both sides joined the melee leading to a bloody clash, police sources said.

Several persons were injured. They were admitted to the Koyilandy Taluk Hospital or the Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode. The police personnel who arrived at the scene to avert the clashes also sustained injuries.

A police vehicle and a bus owned of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) were attacked. The activists also damaged several motorbikes parked near the CPI (M) area committee office, the police said.

The Koyilandy police registered cases against 200 persons. Eight persons had been arrested in connection with the attack on the police jeep.

UDF leaders alleged that the police were not impartial in taking action. “We want the police to respond instantly and in a neutral manner,” UDF district committee chairman P.K.K. Bava said. Koyilandy town and its adjoining areas are politically and communally sensitive regions in the Thamarassery sub-division, police sources said.

The other area is Mukkom which recently witnessed clashes between CPI(M) and Congress workers. Less than a month ago, Koyilandy town saw clashes between the BJP-RSS workers and the CPI(M).