Violent confrontation erupted between members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) in Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, resulting in property damage and arson attacks on ambulances. The Nedumangad police have initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the sequence of events and identify those responsible, while intensifying security measures to prevent further unrest in the region.

The conflict began yesterday around 7 PM when a local CPI(M) leader, V. S. Saji, was allegedly assaulted by SDPI activists, sustaining minor injuries. The police report that the attack followed a dispute over civic issues, though SDPI representatives claim their members were provoked by CPI(M) supporters removing a protest banner. In retaliation, unidentified assailants targeted the homes of SDPI workers, damaging windows and property with stones. Later that night, masked individuals vandalized an ambulance and a car owned by an SDPI activist in the Kaypadi area, leaving both vehicles severely damaged.

The violence escalated further in the early hours of October 20, when an ambulance operated by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of CPI(M), was set ablaze outside Nedumangad Taluk Hospital at approximately 2:30 AM. Authorities suspect the use of an incendiary device, which reduced the vehicle to a charred wreck. Fire services contained the blaze, preventing damage to the adjacent hospital. No injuries were reported in the arson incident.

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The police have formed a Special Investigation Team to probe potential links between the initial assault and subsequent attacks, analyzing CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and witness statements. Over 50 officers have been deployed to maintain order, with checkpoints established across Nedumangad. Both parties have accused each other of instigating the violence, with CPI(M) leaders condemning the arson as an act of sabotage and SDPI denying involvement, alleging political framing.

This incident reflects ongoing tensions between SDPI and CPI(M), rooted in ideological and political differences, with prior clashes in Kerala fueling concerns over communal stability. Community leaders have brokered a tentative truce, but the investigation’s outcome remains critical to restoring peace in Nedumangad ahead of local elections.

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