Kozhikode: Violence broke out between LDF and UDF workers during rallies related to the C K G Memorial Government College Students' Union elections in Perambra on Friday. Congress MP Shafi Parambil sustained injuries after police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Around 10 others, including DCC president Adv K Praveen Kumar, former KSU state president K M Abhijith, and DCC office bearers K K Ragesh and K K Vinodan, were also injured in the police action.

Shafi Parambil suffered breathing difficulties and facial injuries. He is undergoing treatment at BMH Hospital, Kozhikode and is likely to undergo surgery. Praveen Kumar remains under observation at the same hospital. According to sources, DySP Hariprasad has also sustained injuries.

The UDF observed a hartal in Perambra to protest the alleged LDF–SFI attack on KSU activists at the college following the UDSF’s victory in the union elections. After the hartal, the UDF organised a protest march in the evening. Meanwhile, the CPM held a protest march in Perambra on Friday evening, alleging that grama panchayat president VK Pramod was assaulted when he questioned the closure of a government office as part of the UDF hartal.

Tensions escalated when police attempted to remove UDF protesters, including senior leaders, leading to a lathi charge and tear gas deployment. UDF activists alleged that the police failed to disperse the LDF protesters even after their rally concluded and that tear gas was used against their march six times. 

Following the police action, Congress workers organised a protest march before the Kozhikode DCC office at 10.30 pm on Friday. Congress KPCC President Sunny Joseph announced that the party will hold block committee-level protests across the state against the police action on Congress Working Committee President Shafi Parambil. He alleged that the attack was a planned move to cover up the gold theft in Sabarimala. Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala also condemned the attack. In protest against the police action, the UDF district committee has announced a protest march to the Inspector General’s office in Kozhikode at 9.30 am on Saturday.