Four CPM rebels attacked

THRISSUR: Four CPM rebels, including a woman, were allegedly hacked by a group of suspected CPM activists at Meppadam near Chelakkara here on Wednesday. The injured, Mohammed Rafeeque, Chelakkara panchayat member, Faisal, Suresh and his mother Sukumary have been admitted to the Jeevodaya Hospital.The attack took place at the house of Sukumary, a former CPM sympathiser. A group of armed men allegedly broke into the house at 11.30 pm and attacked Rafeeque and others with swords. Rafeeque suffered serious injuries in his head and arms. Chelakkara Circle Inspector Hamsa said there were differences of opinion between the two parties on the rebel issue and the assault was the result of a series of events in the area.Rafeeque, the son of a former CPM area secretary, along with Faisal and Suresh, had quit the CPM during the last local body elections following some differences with the leadership and has been working with the Indian Union Muslim League for some time now.The Muslim League observed a five-hour hartal in the Chelakkara constituency on Thursday in protest against the attack on its partymen. The Muslim League district leadership alleged that the CPM was behind the attack and sought immediate action against the culprits. While denying any role in the incident, CPM area secretary P A Babu said that the injured Muslim League panchayat member was a goon in the area and that the attack was in retaliation to a scuffle he had with some auto drivers in a bar a few days ago.