A police tear gas shelling and baton charge ensued, during which several people, including Shafi Parambil, were injured.
Published Oct 11, 2025 | 9:27 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 11, 2025 | 9:27 AM
Shafi Parambil sustains nasal bone fractures. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The incident is linked to tensions that have been simmering since the college union elections at Perambra CKG College. The trouble began when the police stopped the UDF’s victory celebrations after the organisation won the chairmanship post in the college elections. Several workers were injured during the subsequent confrontation in Perambra town. Following the incident, the UDF had called for a hartal.
Congress MP Shafi Parambil sustained two nasal bone fractures after a police lathi-charge during the United Democratic Front (UDF) protest march in Perambra, Kozhikode, on Friday, 10 October evening.
Medical examinations at a private hospital confirmed the fractures, and doctors have advised surgery and five days of rest, according to Kozhikode District Congress Committee (DCC) president Adv. K. Praveen Kumar.
The UDF march had turned violent following clashes with LDF protesters and police.
A police tear gas shelling and baton charge ensued, during which several people, including Shafi Parambil, were injured.
DySP Hariprasad and about ten policemen also sustained injuries. The DySP, who suffered a hand injury, has been admitted to hospital.
The incident has triggered widespread protests by Congress workers across Kerala.
Demonstrations and sporadic clashes were reported in Kozhikode, Thrissur, and Thodupuzha on Friday night.
Youth Congress activists reportedly tried to storm into the Thodupuzha police station and blocked major roads, including the Ernakulam–Kalamassery route.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph announced that the Congress will hold a statewide block-level protest on Saturday, 11 October to condemn the police action and the assault on Shafi Parambil and other UDF workers.
In Kozhikode, UDF district chairman K. Balanarayanan and convener Ahmed Punnakkal said that a protest demonstration will be held in front of the IG office at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a large police contingent has been deployed in Perambra as tensions continue to run high in the area.
The incident is linked to tensions that have been simmering since the college union elections at Perambra CKG College.
The trouble began when the police stopped the UDF’s victory celebrations after the organisation won the chairmanship post in the college elections.
Several workers were injured during the subsequent confrontation in Perambra town. Following the incident, the UDF had called for a hartal.
As part of the protest, UDF workers, including Shafi Parambil, took out a demonstration on Friday.
At the same time, CPI(M) workers also announced a march alleging that Perambra panchayat president V.K. Pramod was attacked during the hartal.
Tensions escalated when both marches converged at the same time, leading to stone-pelting and a scuffle.
Reacting strongly to the police action, Shafi accused the government and the police of siding with CPI(M).
“You will face a bigger defeat in Perambra. No matter how much you hide the news, these gold thieves will be exposed in front of the people. I need to remind the police that there, salary is not coming from the CPI(M) party office. We will give them a fitting reply,” Shafi said.
The violent attack triggered a political storm, with senior Congress leaders squarely blaming the CPI(M) and the police.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph alleged that the attack was “premeditated and politically motivated.”
He claimed it was orchestrated to divert public attention from the controversy over the alleged gold theft involving CPI(M) leaders.
“The CPI(M) and the police carried out the attack to divert public attention. The police are now functioning as the CPI(M)’s quotation team,” Sunny Joseph said.
AICC general secretary KC Venugopal termed the incident “a heinous act” and accused the CPI(M) and the police of conspiring against Shafi Parambil.
“The government, trapped in the gold controversy, is trying to unleash violence to divert attention. Congress will strongly resist this anti-democratic attack,” Venugopal said, adding that several Congress workers were also injured.
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan called the police “goons for the CPI(M)” and warned the government that the assault marked “the beginning of its political end.”
He linked the incident to the Sabarimala gold loot controversy, saying the attack would not help the ruling party escape public scrutiny.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also condemned the “police brutality” against the MP.
“Even though they knew he was an elected representative, the police brutally attacked him. Strong action must be taken against the officers involved,” he said.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
