RSS Sevalay in Kannur was vandalised by CPM miscreants a day after the inauguration
Ganesh Krishnan R
As the latest episode in a never-ending series of Communist violence in Kannur, a newly built RSS Savalay was vandalised by CPM miscreants on May 1. The building, Keshava Smriti Sevalay was inaugurated by Prajna Pravah Akhil Bharatiya Samyojak Shri J Nandakumar hardly a day before, on April 30. Perunthattil, where the sevalay is situated, is a bastion of CPM where other organisations are not allowed to undertake any
political-cultural activity.
The sevalay that comprised of several facilities for public welfare including a help-desk, skill development unit, library etc, was a long-cherished dream of the Swayamsevaks. To materialise the dream, they had to spend their hard earned money liberally towards the cause.
According to the local people, the sevalay has been attacked, at every stage of construction, over 18 times since its very foundation stone was laid. When the foundation stone was laid, it was removed within a few days and the excavated area of the foundation was refilled with soil. Again, the nearly finished walls had been demolished. Despite threats and series of heinous attacks, the Swayamsevaks supported by the mothers and sisters of the village completed the construction. Hence it has been held as a point of pride by the swayamsevaks in the region.
As a part of service activities under the sevalay, a
tailoring unit has been functioning in the first floor of the building. With a view of introducing various projects and welfare schemes of Union Government to public, a help desk has also been operational in the same building.
An eyewitness says, the attack was carried out by a group of 12 assailants with weapons and bombs. Among the injured was a student of standard VIII, son of an RSS karyakarta, who was brutally thrashed by the assailants. Prakash Babu, a swayamsevak who had lost one arm in a CPM attack in 2008, was also beaten. The miscreants tried to stuff Prakash Babu’s mouth with a bomb. A photo gallery, set in the library hall, of the venerable cultural figures of the village like, Narayanan Koithatta, Kunjambu Nambiar and two Balidanis has also been destroyed.The new building was then smeared with red paint.
After the attacks, the goons barged into the houses nearby the Karyalay and threatened the people. A protest march was held in the evening of the same day. Despite police protection, there were attempts to attack the march. Furthermore, CPM cadres hurled abuses at the march which was attended by over 80 persons including women.
Speaking to Organiser, RSS Vibhag Karyavah Shri Shyam said, “RSS has built inroads in Perunthattil, a party village, through persistent hard work and patience. Now the Sangh has got a wide acceptance and public support here. The CPM regarded the popularity of RSS as an existential threat to their autocracy over the region. That is the sole reason behind perpetual attacks.”
“There were whats app messages circulating against the new Karyalay that ‘we don’t need an RSS building here!’ Hence the Sevalay was under police protection but the attack took place when the policemen left after their night shift,” he added.
Hardly hundred metres away from the site, CPM had erected boards warning RSS, with photos of some CPM cadres displayed. The board read: “Welcome to CPM party village. This is an RSS-free zone”. The locals allege that those who were featured on the board were criminals and murder accused. Later, the board was removed by the local police. A day before the inauguration, RSS Vibhag Karyvah Shri Sasi was surrounded by a group of armed CPM
workers but he had a very close call.
Condemning the attack, RSS demanded stringent legal action against the culprits. “The CPM national leadership should show the courage to own up the crimes committed by their cadres and urge the state unit to shed the violence and make Kannur conducive for political and cultural activities of nationalist organisations,” RSS urged in a statement issued on May 1. n
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