Thiruvananthapuram: The Judicial First Class Magistrate-III in Thiruvananthapuram rejected the bail applications of eight CPM cadre who had been arrested in connection with the attacks against ED officials on May 27, when they were leaving after the raid at Veena Vijayan’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram. The accused are Nidin Raj, Manoj, Jeevan, Shahil/Shahin and Sreejith. The same court rejected the bail petitions of three more activists on June 18, 2026. They are Kiran, Shafee and Vysakh.
The court took such a decision to protect the ED officials on duty and prevent further violence. Though it is not a surprise for political observers, given the Left government’s alleged intolerance over the last few decades, the May 27 CPM attack on ED officials in Thiruvananthapuram and the subsequent arrests by agencies are new to Keralam in general and Thiruvananthapuram in particular.
CPM workers attacked the ED vehicles, damaged the vehicle, and attacked the driver, who suffered an eye injury. The rejection of the bail gives hope that the hit-and-run strategy of the Communists has expired.
Cases have been registered against approximately 300 identifiable CPM men. Some of them were sheltered in party offices and were initially denied to be party cadres by their own leaders. The primary provisions invoked in the First Information Report (FIR) include attempt to murder, assault on public servants, unlawful assembly, rioting and wrongful restraint. The Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act was invoked as the CPM cadre had used sticks, stones and bricks to vandalise the ED vehicles.
The BJP alleges that the remaining people have not been booked, thanks to the V.D. Satheeshan Government’s soft approach towards the CPM goons. According to them, it is the result of adjustment politics.
The attackers had the ardent hope that their party would protect them under any circumstances. Various incidents in the past validated that hope. They did not know that the situation would be different if central agencies were attacked, especially when a strong and decisive government is at the helm in Delhi. Again, it appears to be the beginning of the crumbling of the CPM.
