CPI(M) alleges murder bid during KSU protest; Congress denies charges
February 26, 2026: Senior M. V. Jayarajan on Thursday alleged that a “suicide attacker” attempted to murder Kerala Health Minister Veena George during a protest by the Kerala Students Union (KSU) at Kannur railway station. Jayarajan claimed the minister sustained injuries in the scuffle and later complained of neck pain, after which she was shifted to hospital. He presented video footage to support his charge and alleged that a wreath had earlier been placed at the minister’s official residence in Thiruvananthapuram to symbolise she was “dead.”
Jayarajan criticised Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan and the Congress, alleging that failure to act against earlier incidents emboldened the attackers. He claimed the visuals showed one protester in a white shirt reaching close to the minister and termed the episode a “purposeful attempt” to kill her. Police arrested five KSU activists following the incident. The protest had been organised over allegations of medical negligence in government hospitals across Kerala.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary M. V. Govindan alleged a broader conspiracy to defame government hospitals, claiming vested interests were targeting the state’s public health system. The Congress and the UDF have denied any attack on the minister, dismissing the allegations as politically motivated. The incident has intensified political tensions in the state, with both sides trading sharp accusations.