**Tension Erupts in Kannur District Amid Youth Congress and CPI(M) Clash**
Tension escalated in the Malappattam area of Kannur district on Wednesday evening following a violent clash between Youth Congress and CPI(M) activists during a protest march. The demonstration, led by Youth Congress state president and Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, aimed to condemn the alleged vandalism of a Mahatma Gandhi statue located on private property owned by a Congress worker.
As the protest march neared the CPI(M) Local Committee Office in Malappattam, a confrontation broke out, leading to stone-pelting and bottle-throwing from both factions. In response, police intervened to disperse the crowd and mitigate further violence. Authorities have since registered cases against activists from both parties involved in the altercation.
Youth Congress leaders conducted a sit-in at the protest site, accusing CPI(M) members of instigating the violence and targeting senior Congress figures, including MP K Sudhakaran. The CPI(M) has yet to publicly address these accusations.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan condemned the incident, asserting, “CPM criminals ran amok in the district of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while the police merely observed. This is not Stalin’s Russia; this is Kerala.” He further called on Pinarayi Vijayan, who also serves as Home Minister, and CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan to take responsibility for controlling the actions of their party members. Satheesan emphasized that despite any threats, Congress would continue to assert its presence in all villages claimed by the CPI(M).
In a troubling development, Congress later reported that the under-construction Gandhi statue in Malappattam was vandalized again on Wednesday night. Police are currently investigating this incident.
**FAQ**
**What sparked the clash between Youth Congress and CPI(M) activists?**
The clash was triggered by a protest march organized by Youth Congress to condemn the alleged vandalism of a Mahatma Gandhi statue, leading to violent confrontations as the march approached the CPI(M) Local Committee Office.