Kottayam: A spate of violent attacks between rival political groups has earned Kannur district the infamous sobriquet of 'Kerala's killing fields'. Now, a village in Kottayam district in central Kerala seems to tread the dangerous Kannur path, if the recent trend of political violence in the once-peaceful village is anything to go by. Prohibitory orders had been in force for over a month at Chirakkadavu panchayat following a series of attacks and counter-attacks involving activists and supporters of the CPM and BJP. At least five people were either hacked or stabbed and several houses and vehicles were attacked in a span of two months, forcing district authorities to impose prohibitory orders in the panchayat for weeks, throwing the life of common man into disarray even as fear grips them.
More in store
The police fear that there is no end in sight to violent crimes here even as, at least, eight cases have been registered, four people arrested and several are absconding over the recent incidents. "We have intelligence inputs that both the BJP and the CPM have more people on their targets," a top police officer told Onmanorama on condition of anonymity. The officer also confirmed that political rivalry is at the centre of the violent incidents which are connected to each other. "However, we are yet to ascertain whether the incidents were planned with the knowledge of local party leaders and if there were any external intervention in the cases," he said.
The pattern of the incidents, however, reveal that the crimes were planned and executed in a manner that fits a so-called political thriller's plot. The series of violence is only a bloody manifestation of the long-term rivalry between the two parties in their bid to survive, only at the cost of each other. Chirakkadavu has undoubtedly been one of the red fortresses of central Kerala – the CPM's electoral performance in the area over the past few decades is proof. The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has been ruling the panchayat for the past 20 years, but the party had to face a tough challenge from the BJP in the panchayat polls in 2015. The results: CPM - 7, its ally CPI – 2, BJP- 6 and Congress-led UDF – 5 out of the total 20 wards. The BJP also came second in seven wards. The narrow difference of two seats between the two parties in the local self-government body explains why is it a do-or-die battle for the rivals who battle it out physically and keep blaming each other for the breakout and spread of the violence.
Peace a thing of the past
Elders remember Chirakkadavu as a land of peace just like any other village in the state. The village had its life around the Sree Mahadeva Temple, with Lord Shiva as the main deity. However, the fight between the CPM and the Rashtiya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is nothing new to Chirakkadavu. It has a history of at least 15 years, but this is the first time it has turned so bloodied. In 2013, even the annual temple festival had witnessed the fight between the two.
"Earlier, the parties used to vandalise each other's flag posts or tear apart some posters. There was no physical attacks. But these days all the flag posts and posters are safe whereas the people, their houses and vehicles are not," said a woman hailing from Chirakkadavu, who did not wish to be identified. She said the prolonged prohibitory order had made life difficult for the common people as all shops downed shutters before 8pm. "People are literally scared of going out after sunset," she said.
Turning point
The history of Chirakkadavu's politics of violence dates back to 1986 when Unnikrishnan Nair, a CPM supporter, was stabbed allegedly by RSS workers during a panchayat election. "It was an unprovoked but planned attack," said V G Lal, a prominent CPM leader in the area. "The RSS wanted to disrupt the poll proceedings and make an atmosphere of fear. The assailants had even come from other parts of the state. A local RSS worker was convicted in the case by a local court, but the sentence was commuted later," he said. Lal blames RSS's penchant for violence for the ongoing tension in the area. "RSS can grow up only by physically attacking their opponents, especially in areas where the CPM is strong," he said.
Since the 1986 incident, there have been attacks at frequent intervals, said Lal, adding that the RSS upended the scale of attacks after the Narendra Modi government came to power at the Centre in 2014. Another CPM leader, B Sureshkumar, was hacked in 2005.
The latest series of violence has its origin around the Mahadeva Temple where three CPM workers were stabbed allegedly by RSS workers on the night of May 13. Vishnu, 23, of Vishnunikethan; Kottadikunnel Sajan, 33, and Pallathu Renjith, 30, were attacked by a gang when they were going to Vishnu's wife house in a car. The gang followed them in a car after an altercation between the two groups near the temple, according to local people. RSS activist Ravi Krishnan was arrested following the incident and remanded. However, the CPM alleged that there were more people involved in the attack, but the police did not go after them.
The BJP/RSS has distanced itself from the incident and had even issued a statement saying it had no political angle. However, a prominent BJP/RSS leader in the area admitted that the organisations were giving legal aid to Ravi. The BJP's version is that the CPM activists in the car were drunk and they had provoked Ravi by trying to hit him with the vehicle. The CPM refuted it saying their workers were targeted by a gang of RSS activists who are active near the temple.
Meanwhile, each incident of violence in the area throws up such Rashomonic dilemma with both parties having their own versions, well narrated. It would be better not to delve deep into them. The police conclusion is that the May 13 incident was not a planned one – but it proved to be a trigger with far-reaching impact.
The RSS alleged that CPM workers unleashed terror that night by attacking the houses of several RSS/BJP workers. "In retaliation, our cadre attacked one house," the RSS leader admitted to Onmanorama. In the next recorded incident, the car owned by CPM Vazhoor area committee member N K Sudhakaran was vandalised by a group, which, CPM alleged, linked to the RSS. A youth named Sooraj S Nair, 22, suffered injuries in the melee. A case was registered at the Manimala police station and one person was arrested and granted bail.
The next day, June 8, witnessed one of the bloodiest episode of the Chirakkadavu violence. It started as a neighbourhood brawl between two women, apparently over the ongoing clashes. The women belonged to the rival parties and a group of RSS youngsters had gathered on the premises. The brawl led to a fight between the RSS youth and a CPM member who lives nearby. The CPM member, Mukesh Murali alias Kannan, is in remand for hacking RSS leader Kunnath Ramesan, 32, and Parayil Satheesh, 25, that day.
Ramesan's leg got almost severed in the attack. The CPM claimed that Mukesh attacked the RSS workers for self defence after they attacked his house and wife. The party even claims that it was Mukesh who had informed the police about the brawl – a theory the RSS outrightly rejected. Mukesh has been arrested and remanded. The Sangh Parivar alleged that Mukesh is a history-sheeter and the CPM was using him as a hitman. "He was not around for nearly eight years and the area remained peaceful that time," the RSS leader said. He even alleged that Mukesh had a role in political violence in other parts of the state as well, especially in Kannur. However, the police have not verified the allegation. Another CPM worker, Kalambattukavala Karthik, has also been remanded in connection with the case. His father Manoj's autorickshaw was set afire later.
The next incident was on June 23 when Muttiyakulam Ravi, 33, a CPM follower, was hacked by a gang when he was going home along with his wife in his car. RSS activists P R Rajesh of Chirakkadavu, and Dileep of Cheruvaly were arrested for committing the crime. Ravi, who runs a tiles shop at Thekkethukavala, has not been active in party politics of late. The CPM believes that the attack on him was meant to threaten his employees who are party workers. The incident prompted the district collector to extend the prohibitory orders in force in the panchayat to two more weeks.
There has not been any direct attack on people from either side after that. However, there have been several incidents of reported and unreported vandalism with houses and vehicles of workers on both sides coming under attack.
Blame games galore
What is happening at Chirakkadvu is undoubtedly the use of force to prevail amid ideological confrontation. This is a battle in which both sides claim victory even as painting themselves as innocent victims, a scene similar to the Kannur model of politics. Both the CPM and the BJP blame each other for triggering the violence. The CPM alleged that the BJP has lost ground at Chirakkadavu after some local leaders were charged with corruption. "They could woo youngsters to their fold in the past few years. But now people have realised their communal colour and corruption and are coming back to us. At such a juncture, they are deliberately unleashing violence to suppress our growth," a youth leader of the CPM said.
The BJP outrightly denied the charges and stated the CPM has lost moral ground in the area. "Look at the electoral gains we have made in the last civic polls. It is self-explanatory," said a BJP leader. However, the CPM claimed BJP's vote share fell in the booths falling within the panchayat in the 2016 Assembly elections, which came a year after the local body polls.
'Apple alliance and rise of BJP'
The BJP claims to have gained strength in the village through disciplined and organised activities, though the CPM is in the denial mode. The CPM in fact accuses the Congress party of colluding with the BJP at its own cost. The CPM had claimed a few years back that both the Congress and the BJP fought panchayat polls together forming what is mocked as the 'Apple alliance', alluding to the electoral symbol of 'Apple' which was assigned to many independent candidates whom both the parties had backed.
"Though the unholy alliance did not yield any significant results, the parties came together again in 2015, this time fielding weak candidates in wards where one of the parties had winning chances and ensuring cross voting. Interestingly, the UDF, which was for long a distant opposition party, has now emerged an equal player, at least in terms of number of local body seats, with the changing political patterns and equations. It also remains a mute spectator to the politics of bloodshed despite making fervent calls for peace. The panchayat falls under the Vazhoor assembly constituency represented by N Jayaraj, MLA, of the Kerala Congress (M), an ally of the Congress. Anto Antony of the Congress represents the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency to which the panchayat belongs.
Calling for peace, both Jayaraj and Antony had even staged a hunger strike on June 14 as the violence peaked. In reply to Jayaraj's submission in the Assembly, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on June 25 made a promise to ensure peace in the area at the earliest. Soon after, Kanjirappally DySP Immanuel Paul and Ponkunnam circle inspector C R Parmod were shifted out. S Madhusoodanan replaced Paul while K R Mohandas came in place of Pramod. The BJP has found fault with the move terming it an attempt to scuttle truthful probe, whereas the CPM which had issues with the previous officers hailed the replacements as an honest move to bring out the truth and ensure peace. The official version of the home department is that the transfers were part of a usual procedure.
Who'll have the last laugh?
The BJP's stunning rise in the area is obviously a reason for the turbulence in the area. The CPM needs to check its rivals growth, while the saffron wing has to build on the momentum they have gained over the years. But is bloodshed the only means of survival?
"We don't know whether they realise it or not, but both the BJP and the CPM are going to be losers in this game. Because the people are against this sort of violence," a businessman in Ponkunnam said.
