Thalassery still tense after political violence

Political violence has once again erupted in the killing fields of Kannur district, Thalassery and Panoor. The months of November and December are noted for the escalation of violence in this trouble torn areas with the CPI(M) and the RSS workers locking horns against each other.

The recent incident of violence occurred when a group of CPI(M) workers barged into the house of an RSS activist Shidil and injured his father Ramadas, mother Usha and his younger brother in a violent attack at Kommalvayal near Thalassery. RSS workers retaliated with a swift attack on the residence of CPI(M) leader Rajesh and inflicting injuries on him and his brother Ranjith.

The five injured are undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College and Thalassery Co-operative Hospital. In a surprise raid following a tip-off, North Zone Range Inspector General of Police A Hemachandran and the Kannur district Superintendent of Police Mathew Poly Karp seized four country-made bombs from Kolavallor near Panoor.

The bombs were seen in the vacant plot of Abdula Haji. In the politically tense areas of Thalassery and Panoor it is a general rule employed by political parties to dump the weapons in vacant plots without the knowledge or support of the concerned person or rather the owner of the plot.

Kannur district has always been in the news over the political killings and political violence with the BJP and the RSS loosing several promising young leaders including the then district secretary of BJP, Panniyannoor Chandran and the State vice president of the Bharatiya Yuva Morcha KT Jayakrishnan. Both were lynched by the CPI(M) goons in broad daylight with the overt and covert support and blessings of the party higher ups.

The epicentre of the present political violence is the birth place of State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who incidentally has the name of his village Kodiyeri along with his name. With the CPI(M) boldly attacking the house of an RSS activist and injuring his family members, there are widespread criticism throughout the area over the lethargy of the police and the open support extended by Kodiyeri in these politically violent incidents.

Political opponents and critics are of the opinion that Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who started his political career as a small time student activist of the SFI in Thalassery area, has grown to this height owing to his active participation in the political violence of the district. The million dollar question is that if the police is handled by a person like Kodiyeri with a background of political violence, how effective the force would be.

The Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly Oomen Chandy and the KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala had undertook a massive Shanthi Yatra from Payyanur to Thalassery and this was accepted by the public with enthusiasm and love. The KPCC president had alleged that the CPI(M) leaders never anticipated such a huge success for the yatra with people who shun the violence joining the yatra from all parts of the district. The CPI(M) was on the back foot in the issue and sources said that the party wants to nullify the effect of the Shanthi Yatra in an organised manner and the attacks conducted on the house of the RSS activist is being seen as a part of such a political move on the part of the CPI(M).

Another important point to note is that there could probably be violence in Panoor area with the CPI(M) area secretary Pattan Hareendran being considered as one of the architects of violence in the district. Political observers are of the opinion that there could be attacks and counter attacks in the Panoor area given the verbal attacks conducted by the leaders of the CPI(M) and the BJP.

Ultimately it seems that the State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is turning out to be an utter failure in containing the political violence which is repeating in a cyclic manner in his home constituency. Sources in the police told The Pioneer that some officers in the rank of Circle Inspectors are reluctant to join duty in Thalassery as they know that the force will not be independent to act. Some officers who had earlier served their term in Thalassery areas have clearly told the SP that if the police is given a free hand then the violence would be easily crushed

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