Chappal thrown at Nava Kerala march

PAYYANUR: It was a sign that not everything is probably going to be well with the meticulously planned Nava Kerala march led by CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. And, it was the first such experience for those who were leading the yatra.

Vijayan was moving towards the venue of the reception here after receiving a guard of honour from the red volunteers at the Central Bazar on Tuesday evening, when a chappal was thrown at him allegedly by a man in an ‘inebriated’ state.

The chappal missed the target.

According to people around him, the ‘protester’ was under the influence, but he shouted ‘V S Achuthanandan Zindabad’ as he hurled the chappal.

The man, identified as Shaji, 29, of Thirumeni-Muduvam in the Peringom police station limits, was severely beaten up by the party workers on the scene. He was taken to the government hospital at Payyanur even as a crowd followed him.

The doctors couldn’t keep him in the hospital for long due to reasons of security. According to hospital sources, he was taken away in a vehicle by his relatives. According to the police, Shaji was taken into custody for drunken behaviour and for trying to disrupt the function. He was released on bail.

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