Five CPM cadres from Panoor have been sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment for attempting to kill two RSS karyakartas, who are brothers, on February 11, 2018. The incident took place in Panoor, Kannur district. The CPM goons barged into the house of Rijil and Rijesh and allegedly tried to hack them to death. Both sustained serious injuries.
All five accused were sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 82,500 each by the Thalassery Additional District Court on August 3. Dibin, Shereen, Nikhil, Shajith and Sooraj are the convicted persons. Police carried out a years-long investigation before filing the charge sheet.
CPM has been unleashing murder politics in Kannur district against the Sangh since 1969. Reportedly, the first RSS balidani was Vadakkal Ramakrishnan, who was killed on April 28, 1969. According to reports, Pinarayi Vijayan was the first accused in the FIR and charge sheet. However, he and the other accused were acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence.
Since then, more than 100 RSS, BJP and BMS workers have reportedly been killed by CPM goons in Kannur district alone. RSS workers in Kannur district, especially in Thalassery Taluk, have continued organisational work despite facing CPM daggers and bombs.
Hundreds of CPM cadres reportedly left the party and joined the RSS, BJP and BMS. The article alleges that this prompted the CPM to resort to violent attacks.
Recent convictions involving CPM cadres
April 2026: A Taliparamba Additional District and Sessions Court in Kannur convicted 10 CPI(M) workers in the 2011 Thimiri bomb attack on RSS and BJP workers, finding them guilty of attempted murder and offences under the Explosive Substances Act. The attack left nine RSS-BJP workers seriously injured after crude bombs were hurled at their vehicle. One convict, T.V. Binu, was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment, while the remaining nine received up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Two accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
November 2025: A Taliparamba Additional Sessions Court sentenced two CPI(M) workers, T.C.V. Nandakumar and V.K. Nishad, to 20 years’ imprisonment in the 2012 Payyannur bomb attack case for attempting to murder police personnel and offences under the Explosive Substances Act. The attack was carried out during protests following the arrest of CPI(M) leader P. Jayarajan. Nishad, an LDF candidate in the Payyannur Municipality elections, also faces disqualification following the conviction.
March 2025: A Thalassery Sessions Court sentenced eight CPI(M) cadres to life imprisonment for the 2005 murder of BJP worker Sooraj in Kannur. Among those convicted was K. Mohanan, then a personal staff member of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was found guilty of conspiracy and murder. The court also imposed fines on the convicts.
History of CPM attacks on RSS in Kerala
The latest conviction adds to a series of court verdicts in cases linked to political violence in Kerala, particularly in Kannur, long regarded as the epicentre of CPI(M)-RSS rivalry. According to documented, the violence dates back to 1969 with the killing of RSS worker Vadikkal Ramakrishnan, regarded as the first RSS victim in the conflict. Since then, Kannur and neighbouring regions have witnessed repeated killings, bomb attacks, targeted assaults and attempted murders targeting RSS, BJP and Sangh workers. More than 300 RSS Swayamsevaks have reportedly been killed in the decades-long political violence in Kerala.
The reports document major attacks spanning over five decades, alleging a sustained pattern of violence against RSS workers, with many victims being former CPI(M) members who had joined the Sangh. Several of these incidents have culminated in convictions in recent years, including life imprisonment and long jail terms for CPI(M) cadres in murder and attempted murder cases, reflecting the prolonged legal aftermath of Kerala’s political violence.
