Kerala CPI-M legends tombs vandalized in Kannur, investigation initiated

Thiruvananthapuram, March 28 (IANS) The final resting places of four top CPI-M leaders at the Payamabalam Smrithi Mandiram in Kerala’s Kannur were found vandalised early on Thursday, party leaders said. The Mandiram is a revered place of the Left as it is where their legends interned.

Local leaders said that the tombs of three-time Chief Minister E.K.Nayanar, Politburo members Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Chadayan Govindan, and veteran O. Bharatan were found sprayed with some acid. Top leader and CPI-M candidate from the Kannur Lok Sabha seat M.V. Jayarajan said that this cannot be seen lightly.

“Those who did these heinous acts are bound to create trouble as the elections are around the corner. This clearly shows that while all these leaders were hounded while they were alive, and after death also, they are not left alone,” he said. Meanwhile, the local police have begun a probe and are examining CCTV visuals of the locality.

The incident has caused outrage among CPI-M supporters and leaders, who see this as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the legacy of these revered leaders. The vandalism at the resting places not only disrespects the deceased but also sends a message of intolerance towards the party and its ideologies.

The party leaders have demanded swift action from the authorities to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure such acts of vandalism do not recur. The upcoming elections have added a political angle to the incident, leading to concerns of further unrest and potential violence in the region. This act has shaken the political landscape in Kerala and raised questions about the security and respect for political figures, even in death.