Political tensions have heightened following an explosive device being thrown at the home of Kerala Students Union (KSU) leader Bithul Balan in Kozhikode. Balan, who is currently in custody for protesting against Health Minister Veena George, was targeted in the pre-dawn attack at around 2:30 a.m. The incident has sparked fresh concerns amidst ongoing inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the minister’s injury and subsequent 500 km road trip to the state capital.
Questions have arisen over the events leading to the attack, which occurred after Balan’s arrest for displaying black flags to the minister during a protest at Kannur railway platform. Authorities are actively investigating the explosion, which has added a new layer of complexity to the political landscape. Previously, the minister had been released from Pariyaram Medical College after sustaining injuries during clashes with KSU activists.
Despite concerns raised about the minister’s health, a late-night online medical board assessment indicated an improvement in her condition, prompting her to commence the journey back to the state capital around 4 a.m. in her official vehicle. The decision to undertake such a lengthy road trip immediately after being discharged has sparked debate within political circles, with critics questioning the appropriateness of such a journey for a recovering patient. However, supporters argue that the transfer was made based on medical advice and positive health indicators.
Efforts are underway to secure permission to take the minister’s statement, which was previously postponed due to health reasons. Additionally, officials are working to obtain CCTV footage from the Railway Protection Force at Kannur railway station to reconstruct the events that transpired during the protest. Meanwhile, the focus of the political discourse has shifted to social media, with online trolling and satire proliferating in the absence of visual evidence corroborating claims made by the minister and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) regarding the alleged attack.
