From attacking Janam TV reporter for exposing illegal nexus between CPM and liquor lobby, to attacking on-duty police officers who were enforcing lockdown, the CPM has only dented the country’s resolve in fighting the dreaded virus.
CITU goons, in blue uniform, attack Janam TV reporter Abhilash (in white shirt)
On March 26, Janam TV did a live telecast which exposed the illegal liquor business involving the CITU, the trade union wing of CPM. The CITU workers were unloading liquor in a warehouse belonging to the Beverages Corporation (BEVCO), the government agency-in-charge of liquor business in the state. Despite the ban on all BEVCO outlets in the state from March 25 by Government of Kerala, the illegal loading and unloading was a shock and nuisance to the people in the neighborhood.
This CPM-BEVCO nexus was exposed by Janam TV in a live report by reporter Abhilash. It was during the live reporting that Abhilash was badly injured by the CITU goons in the attack hence hospitalised. The police arrived at the location and saved the Janam TV crew. But the police have not yet registered a case yet. Sadly, CM Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also the Home Minister of the state, has said that he was not aware of any such incident.
District secretary of SFI, the student wing of CPM, has been arrested in Thiruvananthapuram for defying Lock down rules. He was riding a two wheeler without the mandatory helmet and even talking to a mobile phone. In the same district police took legal action against CPM men for defying police instructions over Lock down. However, the higher ups had reportedly taken strong action against these police officers. But, DIG of Police quickly awarded the police officers with ‘Good Service Entry’. This is seen as an incredible development in the police department which is controlled by a CPM leader.
CPM workers violate lock down and attack police
In Aluva near Kochi, two brothers Nishad Shajahan and Nishadil Shajahan were arrested for attacking the police officers who stopped them while they were speeding on a two wheeler. When police stopped and interrogated them regarding the violation of Lockdown they attacked the police. An injured policeman is hospitalised. The DCP K. Karthik IPS has granted Good Service Entry to the police personnel.
The ugliest incident of CPM arrogance during this alarming period is from Kalamasserry, near Kochi where controversial CPM Area Committee Secretary Zakhir Hussein challenged the police in public when he was stopped by the police while driving a car violating the Lockdown rules. TV channels telecast his arrogant behavior where he was seen shouting at the police: “Don’t you know, I am the Kalamassery Area Secretary of CPM. You should identify the people before behaving like this”.
Hussein was in the eye of storm several times in the past. More than a year ago he was arrested and jailed for few weeks in connection with the kidnapping of a Kochi businessman. He was also removed from the party position. Not surprisingly, the party’s enquiry commission found him “innocent” and was reinstated. Hussein’s name again cropped up in the case of siphoning of flood relief fund by a CPM man from a CPM-controlled co-operative bank near Kochi. Later, CPM worker who committed suicide had alleged harassment by Hussein in his death note. Hussein had refuted the allegation by challenging the genuineness of the handwriting in the note.
The CPM workers have been violating the lock down rules and mocking the country’s efforts to fight COVID19 repeatedly while Kerala has reported more than 120 positive cases of COVID19. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan too had declared complete support to the 21-day lock down call given by PM Modi and he had also welcomed the voluntary Janta Curfew on March 22nd given the graveness of the situation. But the CM’s support does not seem to have any impact on the rank and file of his party, the CPM.
The policemen of Kerala are working round-the-clock to implement the Lockdown despite not having proper safety gears like gloves or masks. Instead of supporting the police, the CPM cadre are attacking them for enforcing the lock down which is in the interest of the public. As on March 26th, the Kerala police have arrested 2,535 people and have confiscated 1,636 vehicles for violation of the Lockdown rules.
