A court in Kannur has sentenced CPM local body poll candidate VK Nishad and another accused, TCV Nandakumar, to 10 years in prison for attempting to murder police officers by throwing bombs during a political protest more than 12 years ago. The sentencing, delivered on Tuesday, carries a combined 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹2.5 lakh for the two convicts, though the court clarified that 10 years of imprisonment will be sufficient for both.
The incident traces back to August 1, 2012, when a violent protest erupted following the arrest of CPM leader P Jayarajan in connection with the murder of MSF leader Shukkoor in Ariyil. According to the prosecution, Nishad and others hurled bombs at police personnel during the unrest, leading to charges of attempted murder. Two other accused were acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
The sentencing triggered dramatic scenes outside the courthouse. A large contingent of CPM supporters cheered on the convicted men loudly, raising slogans such as “A thousand greetings to the brave men of Payyannur” and showering them with support as they were escorted to jail.
Despite the conviction, Nishad’s electoral run is expected to continue, as the ruling came after he had already filed his nomination papers. Nishad, who is the DYFI Payyannur block secretary and sitting councillor for Karamel West, is contesting from the Mottammal ward. To prepare for any complications if Nishad becomes legally incapacitated during the campaign, CPM kept a backup plan in place: local committee member M Harindran filed his nomination as a dummy candidate and has deliberately not withdrawn it.
