Veena George advised four days’ rest after injury; official programmes postponed until March 2

Thiruvananthapuram: The office of the Health Minister has announced that Minister Veena George’s programmes until 2 March have been postponed. The decision follows medical advice recommending that she take complete rest for a few days. The minister is currently resting at her home in Pathanamthitta.

She had been undergoing treatment at Kannur Pariyaram Medical College Hospital after sustaining injuries during a KSU protest. She was discharged on Friday in accordance with the medical board’s recommendation.

The minister experienced pain in her right arm and at the back of her head as a result of a neck injury. A medical report issued the previous day clarified that immediate surgery was not required.

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Doctors have now advised her to take four days of complete rest, and her medication is continuing. Follow-up treatment has also been recommended at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.

The clash took place during a black-flag protest organised by KSU activists.

Following the incident, CPM-affiliated social media accounts circulated footage claiming that a black flag struck the minister on the neck during the protest. KSU, however, has strongly denied the allegation. The organisation maintains that the object seen near the minister’s neck was not a black flag but part of the black uniform worn by her own security officer. It has also released what it describes as clarifying video footage.

According to KSU, the hand covered in black cloth visible in the video shared by Left-wing cyber groups does not belong to one of its activists. Instead, the group claims the visuals show the arm of the gunman assigned to protect the minister, which came close to her neck while attempting to shield her amid the commotion.

Meanwhile, police have arrested five individuals in connection with the incident, including KSU district president M.C. Athul. A case of attempted murder has been registered.