A shocking incident of political violence unfolded in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday night, where a woman candidate and her family members were brutally assaulted by an alleged drug gang. The attack targeted LDF candidate Angel and her relatives at their residence in Kadinamkulam, leaving five people injured.
Chronology of a Violent Night
The terrifying episode began around 9 pm. Angel had just returned home with her husband, Fixwell, after a day of election campaigning. Upon arrival, they encountered a four-member gang creating a ruckus and hurling abuses outside their home. When Fixwell questioned the group about their behavior, the situation escalated rapidly.
The gang allegedly turned violent and first assaulted Fixwell. Seeing her husband under attack, Angel attempted to intervene. However, the attackers then turned on her, beating her and striking her legs with sticks. Angel managed to alert other relatives, who rushed to the spot to help.
Escalation and Injuries
Before the relatives could effectively intervene, more individuals joined the initial attackers, intensifying the assault. The coordinated attack resulted in injuries to multiple family members.
Five people sustained injuries in the brutal assault. The injured include Angel, her husband Fixwell, Fixwell's brother Maxwell, and relatives Sanoj and Aneesh. In a particularly distressing detail, a differently-abled member of the family suffered a leg fracture during the violence.
Police arrived at the scene following alerts, prompting the attackers to flee temporarily. However, in a brazen follow-up act, a larger gang of more than 20 individuals returned after the police left. This group again assaulted the candidate and her relatives inside the house and vandalized two-wheelers parked outside.
Police Action and Ongoing Probe
The Kadinamkulam police have registered a case based on the complaints filed by the victims. An investigation is currently underway to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in the planned attacks. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of candidates and the influence of alleged drug mafias in the area, especially during the election period.
The attack highlights growing concerns over political violence and law and order challenges. The fact that the assailants felt emboldened enough to return in greater numbers after the police's initial visit points to a grave security lapse. The community in Kadinamkulam has been left in a state of fear following this targeted violence against a political candidate and her family.
