Two BJP workers have been arrested for allegedly vandalising a local office of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) in Kerala's Kasaragod district, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Vishal K. Babu and Abhinav, both residents of Thayannur in Kasaragod. They were arrested after police examined CCTV footage from nearby houses and shops, which allegedly showed their involvement in the incident.
According to police, the CPI(M) local committee office at Ennappara was found vandalised on Wednesday. Window panes were smashed, furniture was damaged and party flag poles were uprooted. The damage caused to the office has been estimated at more than ₹1 lakh.
A case was registered at the Ambalathara police station, and investigators soon identified the suspects through the CCTV footage. During the probe, police found that one of the accused had sought treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital in Pariyaram before both were taken into custody on Wednesday evening.
During questioning, the two men allegedly told investigators that they had harboured resentment towards the CPI(M) since their school days. They claimed that activities linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had been restricted in their school by members of the Left party, leading to long-standing grievances. Police are also investigating whether the two were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the attack.
The incident has once again brought political tensions in northern Kerala into focus, a region that has witnessed several instances of clashes and vandalism involving workers of rival political parties in the past. Police said further investigation into the case is underway.
