The Thiruvananthapuram City police have arrested 18 CPI(M) workers so far in connection with the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials and vehicles during the raid at former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan residence in the city.

Those arrested include former Thiruvananthapuram Corporation councillor I.P. Binu. The police stated that five more accused, including former councillor Attukal Unni, are still absconding and efforts are underway to trace their whereabouts.

According to the police, Attukal Unni was allegedly among the main conspirators behind the incident and purportedly played a leading role in blocking the ED vehicle during the violent protest.

Those arrested were produced before the Vanchiyoor District Court and later taken to the General Hospital for medical examination. Party workers gathered outside the hospital and raised slogans in support of the arrested leaders.

Meanwhile, the prosecution strongly opposed the bail pleas of the accused during court proceedings. The prosecutors rejected the defence argument that the ED officials were not on official duty at the time of the incident, and maintained that the claim was not legally sustainable.

The prosecution also contended that even though the ED officials were travelling in a taxi vehicle, the attack still falls under the categories of ‘destruction of public property’ and ‘obstruction of government officials performing official duties’.

Senior CPI(M) leader V. Sivankutty criticised the police action, and alleged that raids were conducted in numerous houses without search warrants. He said while legal action could be taken against the CPI(M) workers if any unlawful activities had occurred during the protest, targeting their families was unacceptable.

He alleged that elderly people, bedridden patients and even cancer patients in the homes of protesters were intimidated during the raids.

According to Mr. Sivankutty, the police and ED officials had aggravated the tense situation following the raid by driving vehicles towards the activists who were still seated at the protest venue. The purported action paved the way for further confrontation, he alleged.