Youth tied to post, beaten up in front of relatives in Palakkad; two arrested

PALAKKAD: Two men have been arrested for beating up a youth in front of his relatives after tying him to an electric post. The victim is Okarappallam native Vipin (30). The arrested are Gireesh (38), also from Okarappallam, and Sreekesh (34), from Kanjikode. Both of them are friends of Vipin and are reportedly members of a goonda gang. The assault on Vipin took place at Thenari in Elappully, Palakkad, on the same night when Ramnathan, a native of Chhattisgarh, was beaten to death by a mob in Walayar.

Police launched an investigation after videos of the incident went viral on social media. Later, Vipin, who was injured in the attack, also filed a complaint with the police. Locals and police sources have indicated that the attackers were BJP supporters. However, the police’s initial assessment was that the assault was the result of a dispute related to financial dealings.

Police said that Vipin and Sreekesh had a verbal argument in early December over money matters. Following the argument, Vipin and his associate allegedly set fire to a bike kept at Sreekesh’s house. No police complaint was filed regarding the burning of the bike. Police believe that the assault on Vipin, carried out by Sreekesh and Gireesh, was an act of revenge for this incident.

The two accused were also involved in a previous attack related to Vinayaka Chaturthi. They were arrested while in hiding. Both were produced before the court and remanded.