Kannur: A foot march led by Youth Congress state president Rahul Mankootathil at Malappattam in Kannur district turned sour as a clash broke out between DYFI workers and Youth Congress activists. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening in front of the CPI(M) Malappattam local committee office. During the conflict, the workers hurled bottles and stones at each other.

Tensions began after the Gandhi statue of the Congress at Aduvappuram was vandalised the previous day, followed by an attack on the house of Youth Congress leader Saneesh. Alleging that CPI(M) workers were behind these incidents, the Congress organised a protest march at Malappattam, a CPI(M) stronghold. As the Youth Congress workers took out the march, CPI(M) workers tried to block it, which escalated into a clash.

As a continuation of these events, Rahul Mankootathil led a march on Wednesday through the area. The clash occurred when the march, which began at Aduvappuram, reached Malappattam town. Workers from both sides threw stones and bottles at each other, and a tense atmosphere prevailed in the region.

The Congress alleges that CPI(M) workers unleashed violence when the foot march reached Malappattam. However, the CPI(M) has denied the allegation. Since Malappattam is a CPI(M) stronghold, a heavy police force had been deployed in the area for the Youth Congress march. Although the police attempted to disperse both groups, the clash continued. Subsequently, Rahul Mankootathil and others staged a sit-in protest on the road. Tension continues to prevail in the region following the clash.