Kerala CM Satheesan forms SIT to probe 2023 attacks on Congress workers during Left regime

NEW DELHI: Hours after taking oath as Kerala chief minister on Monday, VD Satheesan said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe attacks on Congress leaders during former CM Pinarayi Vijayan-led Nava Kerala Yatra in 2023.

A fierce political faceoff had ensued three years back during the Left regime when Congress workers were thrashed for waving black flags at Vijayan's motorcade, leading to an intense war of words between two rival factions in the coastal state.



Calling Vijayan Kerala's "most cruel" home minister, senior Congress leader MM Hassan had alleged that Youth Congress protesters were beaten up for waving black flags at the CM's motorcade.

"Yesterday, Youth Congress workers waved black flags and marked their protest against the Nava Kerala Sadas. The UDF workers were brutally attacked. The CM's security also attacked the Youth Congress workers. The CM is the most cruel home minister in the state till now. The DGP should take action against these policemen," Hassan had told news agency ANI.

Alappuzha MLA-elect A D Thomas and Youth Congress state secretary Ajay Jewel Kuriakose were also among those who were assaulted on December 15, 2023. However, police did not filed a chargesheet in the case, which also involved Vijayan's gunman.

Though the mobile phone and pen drive that captured the footage of the alleged assault were sent for forensic examination. A district crime branch officers probing the case said the investigation can be completed only after receiving the results.

With UDF gaining power in the assembly elections, there was a growing demand for a thorough investigation and strict action against the accused.

Satheesan, then the opposition leader, had said that they wouldn't forget the brutal beating of their workers. The accused in the case include Vijayan's gunman Anil Kumar, security staff member S Sandeep and three other identifiable members of the security team.

How the clash unfloded?

While the bus was passing through General Hospital Junction, police removed Thomas and Kuriakose, who were waving black flags, but Kumar and Sandeep jumped out of the escort vehicle and beat the Congress activists with batons. Although television channels had broadcast the assault footage, police initially didn't register a case based on the activists' complaint. The activists' complaint also demanded an investigation against chief minister for inciting violence.

Thomas and Kuriakose moved judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) court 1 after local police failed to take any action on their complaint. Thomas suffered a head injury and Kuriakose sustained a fracture to his hand from the beating. After court reviewed the footage, it ordered that a case be registered.

Later, after chief minister received a complaint, the investigation was handed over to crime branch. But police initially argued that there was no evidence of assault and it was a natural action while providing security to the chief minister.

Despite multiple notices, the gunman didn't appear. Police later recorded his statement in Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, during the investigation, the gunman was promoted to the rank of inspector.