Kottayam: A group of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) workers has been accused of unleashing an attack on a church carol group, injuring many including women and children. Seven workers have been charged by the Chingavanam police, but it is alleged that there were 25 men in the gang that attacked the carol group inside St Paul's Anglican Church at Kumbadi, Pathamuttam, on Sunday night.

DYFI workers reportedly pelted stones at the church, attacked four houses in the locality, and smashed motor bikes and an auto-rickshaw.

The violence followed a tiff between the carol group and the DYFI workers on the street. The DYFI men started singing along with the carollers when they entered the houses near Muttuchira colony. When the carol group protested, the DYFI men tried to harass the girls in the group, the church authorities alleged.

As tension mounted, the police arrived and the DYFI workers made a hasty retreat. The police asked the carollers to go back to the church.

But as the carol singers sat down for food at the church, some 25 DYFI men arrived with weapons and stones and launched an attack, according to the church authorities.

Emiya, daughter of Chelachira Thankachan, suffered injuries to her face and was taken to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital.

However, DYFI block president P D Dilish said neither the CPM youth outfit's leaders nor its workers were involved in the attack. He alleged that the violence was the result of a confrontation between the carol group in the church and another.

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