PTI
Thiruvananthapuram
ED raids linked to the financial dealings between former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter’s firm and a sand mining company triggered attacks on central agency officials in the state capital and statewide protests by CPI(M) leaders and workers on Wednesday.
Severe violence broke out outside Vijayan’s rented residence after ED officials completed the raid and were leaving the premises.
Suspected CPI(M) workers attacked at least three vehicles, including the one carrying ED officials, outside Vijayan’s residence, even as the police failed to prevent the violent mob. There were six ED officials in the vehicle, including a woman.
The raids were carried out while eight central security personnel guarded the premises.
Hearing about the raids at the CPI(M) veteran’s residence, party workers and activists from its allied organisations gathered outside Vijayan’s rented house and staged a protest.
As the ED officials and central security personnel who took part in the raid left his home, the situation escalated, with protesters surrounding and blocking their hired vehicles and throwing stones and bricks at them, badly damaging the windshields, other windows and exterior rear-view mirrors.
The large number of protesters, shouting slogans against the ED and the Centre, kicked the vehicles, banged their fists and sticks on the windows and windshields, and even threw rotten eggs at them.
One of the drivers of the vehicles reportedly sustained an injury.
The ED officials then went to the Thampanoor police station to lodge a complaint against the protesters.
Police and central security personnel struggled to control the crowd as the vehicles, which also had a female official on board, were targeted during the incident.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that the Home Department and the Kerala Police had no prior information about the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid.
“We were not informed, and police assistance was not sought. The ED used central forces to carry out the raids,” he said.
The BJP strongly condemned the attack on ED officials, calling it an assault on the rule of law.
In a post on X, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “Violence is the last refuge of the corrupt.”
Attacking officials on duty and obstructing an investigation is not a political protest. It is an assault on the rule of law, the BJP MLA said.
He alleged, “As usual, the Congress-led state government is keeping quiet to protect its political twin, the CPI(M).
He further added that the BJP-NDA would ensure that the investigation is not derailed.
Earlier, angry CPI(M) workers allegedly hurled helmets, plastic bottles and stones at security personnel deployed outside Vijayan’s house while ED searches were underway inside.
