Published Oct 20, 2026 | 3:52 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 20, 2026 | 3:52 PM
Former Keralam Health Minister Veena George. (Facebook)
Synopsis: Abhilash MS, the police officer who served as gunman to former Keralam Health Minister Veena George, has withdrawn key allegations against five KSU activists accused of attacking her at Kannur railway station, telling the SIT that he saw no weapon and heard no one shout “Kill her”. His original statement led to an attempt-to-murder case, while CCTV footage, medical records, police statements and the Minister’s own account have failed to substantiate key claims of a weapon attack.
The police officer who served as gunman to former Keralam Health Minister Veena George has withdrawn key allegations against five Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists arrested over a protest at Kannur railway station, telling the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that he neither saw a weapon nor heard anyone shout “Kill her”.
Abhilash MS, a civil police officer deputed as George’s gunman, had initially alleged that the five activists attacked the Minister with a weapon. His statement led to an attempt-to-murder case against the activists. They spent 16 days in jail before securing bail.
SIT chief U Preman said Abhilash had changed his earlier account and described his original statement as manipulated. Abhilash, however, did not identify anyone who had prompted him to make the initial allegations.
The retraction adds to the questions surrounding the prosecution’s claim that the activists attempted to murder the Minister. CCTV footage, medical records and statements from police officers on duty have failed to substantiate key allegations of a weapon attack. The Kannur Sessions Court, while granting bail to the accused, had also noted that no weapon was recovered from them.
The SIT has questioned more than 15 people, including police officers present at the railway station and independent witnesses.
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The case arose from a black-flag protest staged by KSU activists against George on 25 February, when she arrived at Kannur railway station to board a Vande Bharat train. A scuffle broke out as protesters approached her, and she sustained injuries behind her ear and on her neck. She was admitted to Kannur District Hospital and later shifted to Pariyaram Medical College.
Health Minister Veena George sustained injuries during the protest. (Supplied)
In a statement recorded months later, George said her neck injury resulted from “pushing and shoving” during the protest. She did not allege that she had been attacked with a weapon. This contradicted the account in the original complaint filed by her gunman, which formed the basis of the attempt-to-murder charge.
Police personnel present at the station had also said they did not witness a weapon being used. The absence of a recovered weapon was among the grounds noted by the court when it granted bail to the activists.
The case took a political turn during the Assembly election campaign, with the CPI(M) repeatedly claiming that the incident was an attempt to murder the then Health Minister. The Congress and KSU maintained that the protest was a political demonstration and accused the government of using serious criminal charges against student activists.
The aftermath of the incident also saw attacks on several Congress offices in Kannur. A crude bomb was reportedly hurled at the residence of one of the accused activists, raising concerns about retaliatory violence.
After the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) came to power, the government constituted the SIT on 31 August following a petition by Kannur MLA TO Mohanan. The investigation is examining the original allegations and the accounts of those present at the station.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
