The police have registered a case against two Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) workers for publicly displaying a severed goat’s head during victory celebrations following the defeat of Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate and former Local Administration Minister K.T. Jaleel in Thavanur in Malappuram district of Kerala.

Dr. Jaleel, a former Muslim Youth League leader who emerged as a prominent LDF face in Malappuram after defeating IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty in Kuttippuram in 2006, lost to United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate V.S. Joy by 14,647 votes.

As part of the celebrations, IUML workers led a goat in a procession at Perunthallur near Triprangode, while one participant carried a severed head of a goat mounted on a stick. The act, widely shared on social media, drew sharp criticism.

The police booked the accused under provisions relating to cruelty to animals and under the IT Act for circulating the visuals online.

Decapitation politics: Jaleel

Condemning the incident, Dr. Jaleel described it as a display of “decapitation politics” and warned of its wider social implications. “Today, it is a goat’s head. Tomorrow, could it be my head?” he asked in a Facebook post.

“I will fight until my last breath against the decapitation politics of the IUML and Jamaat-e-Islami,” he said, adding that he would never surrender to “communal alliances,” regardless of electoral defeat.

Speaking to The Hindu, Dr. Jaleel said the incident risked reinforcing harmful stereotypes against Muslims, particularly in Malappuram.

“The IUML’s reckless act has tarnished the image of Muslims and handed Sangh Parivar forces an opportunity to portray the community as endorsing violence,” he said.

Dr. Jaleel said he would continue “holding high the Left flag of secular politics,” asserting that “Malappuram belongs not to those who behead, but to those who protect lives.”

IUML leadership’s warning

The IUML, however, described the act as “an impulsive excess” committed in the excitement of the celebrations.

IUML Malappuram district president Syed Abbas Ali Shihab Thangal cautioned party workers against celebrations that violate “the boundaries of decency and decorum,” warning that strict action would be taken against those responsible for personal abuse or vulgar conduct.

He also reminded workers that such behaviour could damage the party’s long-standing public reputation.

Goat as mocking reference

IUML workers are said to have started using the term “goat” in reference to Dr. Jaleel after his 2014 Facebook post during the Lok Sabha elections in Ponnani. In that post, he shared a photoshopped image showing IUML candidate E.T. Mohammed Basheer’s election poster being eaten by a goat, along with a caption suggesting that even a goat would reject Mr. Basheer.

Following the controversy, IUML supporters reportedly responded with counter-posters targeting Dr. Jaleel and began using “goat” as a mocking label for him. The reference has since resurfaced from time to time in political exchanges.