Youth Congress Taliparamba block secretary P.R. Saneesh was arrested by the Mayyil police on Thursday in connection with the alleged tearing of a flex board bearing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s image during a recent Collectorate march in Kannur.
Saneesh was later granted bail by the Kannur First Class Judicial Magistrate Court.
The arrest triggered strong reactions from the Congress. District Congress Committee president Martin George alleged that sections of the Kerala Police, particularly in Kannur, were acting as “servants of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.” He condemned the arrest as a retaliatory move for Saneesh’s initiative in installing a Gandhi statue on his private land.
“While those who vandalised the Gandhi statue at Malapattam and attacked the house of Youth Congress leader Irshad were let off with station bail, serious charges were slapped against Saneesh for tearing a flex banner,” Mr. George said.
He further asked why no arrests had been made in cases involving CPI(M) workers accused of entering the Congress office at Panoor, burning party flags on the road and assaulting Congress workers.
“The Congress will not remain silent if the police continue this politically biased approach,” he warned, adding that the party would pursue legal action against what he called unjust police conduct.
Published – May 23, 2025 01:57 am IST
