Thalassery: An independent candidate contesting for Vatakara Lok Sabha constituency in northern Kerala was attacked with a sharp object and injured Saturday evening, police said.
C O T Naseer, 37, a former municipal councillor, was attacked by unidentified people around 7:30pm near Government Girls High School on Kayath Road.
Naseer was returning home on Goods Shed Road riding pillion on SFI former Pinarayi area committee member C H Naurif after breaking fast. A three-member gang hit their bike. Naseer was taken away and assaulted, said Naurif.
He has been admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital with serious cuts and bruises on head and torso.
"He has been taken to a private hospital at Kozhikode. An investigation is on. We are yet to identify the culprits," the investigating officer told PTI.
Naseer, a former municipal councillor, had left the CPM after differences with the party leadership.
The Congress blamed the Left party for the attack.
"We condemn the attack on Naseer. This proves that the CPM was not ready to shed it policy of violent politics. They are following the Stalinist ideology of suppressing opposition voices in any manner they please," opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said in a statement.
The Congress has fielded senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan from the constituency and the CPM has fielded strongman and its former Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan.
(With inputs from PTI)
