Kannur: The incident at Malappattam clearly shows that the CPM in Kerala has now completely turned into a gang of goons and murderers, said Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan. He alleged that CPM criminals hurled stones at the stage while MP K. Sudhakaran was speaking and attempted to physically attack MLA Rahul Mankootathil, who was leading the foot march.

In a scathing attack on the police over the assault allegedly carried out by CPM-DYFI activists against Youth Congress workers at Malappattam, Satheesan criticised the police, stating that while they tried to restrain Youth Congress workers who were organising a peaceful padayatra, Kerala witnessed the shameful sight of them offering protection to CPM criminals.

“In the district of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who holds the Home Department portfolio, CPM criminals ran amok while the police stood by. The attack took place in the legislative constituency represented by CPM state secretary M. V. Govindan,” Satheesan said. He added that the police should be told not to lower themselves to the level of CPM Red Volunteers by protecting criminals.

He alleged that the same criminals who had previously vandalised a Gandhi statue and attacked the house of Youth Congress Taliparamba constituency secretary Saneesh Aduvapparambil were continuing their assaults. “This is not Stalin’s Russia; this is Kerala,” he said.

“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM state secretary M. V. Govindan should step in to rein in the criminals within their own party,” Satheesan demanded. “No matter what threats are made, Congress will continue to move forward. Congress will enter the villages you claim as your strongholds. No CPM leader should think they can stop us by unleashing party criminals and quotation gangs,” the Opposition Leader said.