Kannur, February 27 – Political tensions escalated sharply after an explosive device was thrown at the residence of a leader of the Kerala Students Union (KSU), who had protested against Health Minister Veena George. This occurred even as questions arose about the circumstances surrounding the minister's reported injury and her subsequent 500 km road journey to the state capital.
The attack, which took place around 2:30 a.m., targeted the house of KSU district secretary Bithul Balan in Thiruvallur, Kozhikode.
Balan is currently in police custody after being arrested for showing black flags to the minister at a railway station during a protest on the Kannur railway platform on Wednesday.
The police have launched an investigation into the explosion, which has further heightened the political atmosphere.
Earlier, the minister had been discharged from Pariyaram Medical College after sustaining "injuries" during clashes involving KSU activists.
A medical board that met online late at night assessed that her condition had improved and that her blood pressure was returning to normal levels.
Around 4 a.m., she began her return journey by road, presumably to the state capital city, a distance of approximately 500 km, travelling in her official vehicle.
The decision to undertake such a long road trip soon after hospitalization has raised concerns among political circles, with critics questioning whether a "patient" would normally embark on such a long inter-city journey.
However, supporters maintain that the transfer was based on medical advice and improved health parameters.
The investigation team is expected to seek permission again to record the minister's statement, which had previously been deferred due to health concerns.
Officials have also sought CCTV footage from the Railway Protection Force at the Kannur railway station to piece together events at the protest site.
Meanwhile, the political narrative has shifted to social media.
With no visual evidence yet emerging to substantiate claims made by the minister or the Communist Party of India (Marxist) regarding the alleged attack, online trolling and satire have proliferated.