Kannur: The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Kannur on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of five KSU activists accused of allegedly attacking Health Minister Veena George at Kannur Railway Station on February 25. JFMC-1 Judge E V Raphael issued the verdict on the plea.

The police also filed an application seeking custody of the accused for two days. The application will be considered on March 5.

The Kannur Town Police had booked KSU activists, Athul MC, Akshay V V, Bithul Balan, Ahmed Yasin and Mubas H, on charges, including attempt to murder. They are currently remanded in the Kannur Sub Jail. The incident occurred around 3.20 pm when the protesters waved black flags and demanded the minister's resignation as she arrived at the railway station to return to Thiruvananthapuram.

According to the prosecution, the accused used a dangerous weapon to attack the minister on her neck with the intention of killing her. The prosecution also claims that the youths criminally conspired to carry out the attack. They have been charged with attempt to murder, use of a dangerous weapon and obstructing a public servant from discharging official duties.

The defence says that the attempt to murder charge would not stand as no weapon was recovered during a body check, as mentioned in the inspection memo, or from the spot of the protest, or from the area where the activists were arrested. In its submission, the defence also says that the police arrested the youths immediately, ruling out the possibility of their having hidden the weapon or left it in the area.

The defence also contended that while the police claimed they could not record the minister's statement, she had given hour-long interviews to various media outlets. They said that the charges were intended to keep the youths in custody.

The Inspector, Railway Police, in a report, stated that the probe is in a preliminary stage and only after collecting the statement of the Minister, the police would be able to ascertain the weapon used to attack her.