AYUSH ANAND & VAIBHAV CHADHA
Name of the Victim: Anoop (member of Scheduled Caste community), Swayamsewak
Age when killed: 29 years
Date of Attack: December 16, 2013
Date of Death: December 19, 2013
Culprit: CPI(M) supporters
Residence: Nittoor Gram, Kuttydy Village, TalukVadakara, Khozikhode (Calicut) District, Kerala
Profession: Theyyam artist (Old local dance form)
Anoop used to visit different States for performing Theyyam art and also performed on various television shows. His shows were popular for their energy and subtlety. Our team interviewed Ajeesh, Anoop’s brother, to know the details of his death. Ajeesh narrated how on December 16, 2013, Anoop along with 100 people was staging a dharna against the illegal mining done in Narripatta Panchayat, Vadakara taluka, by CPM men. The panchayat was also headed by local CPM leaders. The dharna was being held in Kaivelli town in the taluka.
The moment local BJP leaders started giving a speech, around 200 CPM men attacked the protesters with rocks and hurled steel bombs. The crowd started dispersing when a stone hurled by a CPM goon struck Anoop’s head. Hit with the impact, Anoop started bleeding from his nose and witnesses narrated how the police, despite being present at the spot, took no action against the CPM goons. A badly injured Anoop was taken to the Kuttydy Government hospital, but since the injury was serious, he was taken to the Calicut Medical College. Anoop remained in the ICU for three days and succumbed in the evening of December 19, 2013.
57 people were arrested in connection with this attack but now they are all on bail. The Calicut Marad Special Court has now begun the trial.
Anoop’s family has revealed that the mastermind behind this attack was one TP Pavitran, Narripata Panchayat president (CPM) and CPM member Babu, who is the Gram Panchayat president. Ajeesh also told us that the police have videos showing how Nandan (a CPM cadre) present at the site, was pelting bombs and stones on BJP workers.
Anoop’s brother, Ajeesh has also been the victim of communist violence but has been lucky enough to survive though ruined in health. Ajeesh was hit by bomb splinters on May 20, 2016, (after the election victory of the CPM in Kerala). It penetrated his lower left. He was admitted in the hospital for one month and doctors have recommended that he take complete bed rest for an entire year.
The tales of Anoop and Ajeesh are indeed heart rending — both brothers, both affected by communist terror; one’s life snuffed out and the other’s ruined. Our club-going and LitFest attending intellectuals have not heard of them — or even if they have, they choose to remain silent.