Explosive hurled at KSU leader’s home near Vadakara

Kozhikode: Two masked men stood outside the gate of KSU Kozhikode district secretary Bithul Balan's home at Thodannur near Vadakara and hurled explosives at 2.37am on Friday. The blast damaged windowpanes, a window frame, the sunshade of the house and glass splinters fell into a bedroom. CCTV footage from the house showed the men throwing what police suspect was a country-made bomb before fleeing the scene. The damage is estimated at Rs 1 lakh.Balan is one of the five KSU activists arrested for taking part in a black flag protest against health minister Veena George at Kannur railway station on Wednesday. The police FIR claimed the protesters had attacked her that day but there are no CCTV visuals to substantiate the claim.Balan's parents were alone at home when the incident occurred. His mother Thankamani said she woke up in panic after hearing the blast. "I was trembling and couldn't even dial a number properly. Somehow, I called a neighbour and then informed the police," she said.Vadakara Police registered an FIR stating that a country-made bomb was hurled at Mullerithazhakkuni House over ‘political enmity' against Balan. Police registered a case under Sections 3 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act. A bomb squad and a forensic team examined the spot.Congress leaders alleged that CPM workers carried out the attack. KPCC chief Sunny Joseph alleged that the bomb attack formed part of the widespread violence CPM was unleashing across Kerala after the party was embarrassed when the ‘drama' involving the health minister was exposed. Joseph said the attack happened while Balan was in remand custody in a ‘false case' over the alleged attack on the minister. He said the incident showed CPM had planned to target Balan's family.Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil visited Balan's home and accused CPM of unleashing violence across the state in the name of a ‘non-existent assault'. He demanded that police register cases against CPM state secretary M V Govindan and other leaders for allegedly inciting violence. He also criticised the police for failing to act firmly in similar incidents and said the force's conduct raised suspicions. Former KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran, Kannur DCC president Martin George and other leaders also visited the KSU leader's residence.