Just crackers, says CPM after ‘explosives’ hurled at house of woman who gave office space to BJP in Communist stronghold

According to police, the incident took place near the house of M Shyamala, 67, late on Monday night, and the explosives fell on handrailings erected in front of the house. Senior police officers, including Kannur (Rural) SP Nidhin Raj, visited the spot, and a case has been registered, police said.

BJP Kannur South district president Biju Elakkuzhy accused the CPI(M) of being behind the attack. “This kind of attack stems from the fascist approach of the CPI(M) that no other party will be allowed to function in their strongholds. The woman who rented out a building to the BJP at Peralassery has been facing threats from CPI(M). They had targeted her house when she ignored the threats and rented out the building for the BJP,” he claimed.

Rejecting the allegations, the CPI(M) said in a statement, “There is no politics behind the incident, which is only a bursting of crackers. People should remain alert against false campaigns of the BJP and the attempt of that party to shatter the peace prevailing in the region,” said the statement.

BJP opening an office at Peralassery is being seen as a sign of the growing influence of the Sangh Parivar in traditionally Communist-supporting villages in Kannur. “Youths from the CPI(M) strongholds are slowly getting attracted to the BJP. We have opened offices in many other places in Kannur, where the CPI(M) had not so far allowed us to function,” said a BJP leader.

The Congress, which has owned land at Peralassery for the last four decades, has not so far opened an office there.