KALPETTA: Police have arrested 19 SFI activists in connection with the attack on Rahul Gandhi MP's office in Kalpetta. and the beating of staff. SFI district president Joel Joseph and secretary Jishnu Shaji were among the 19 arrested.

The government had announced a high-level inquiry into the attack on the office. ADGP Manoj Abraham is in charge of the investigation. The Chief Minister has directed to submit the report within a week.

The CM also directed to suspend the Kalpetta DySP, who was on duty at the spot, pending investigation. The state police chief was tasked with delegating the duty of the DySP to another officer.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and the CPM state committee rejected the SFI's attack on Rahul Gandhi's office. "There was no need to march to Rahul Gandhi's office. Rahul Gandhi is just an MP," LDF convener EP Jayarajan said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who condemned the attack on Rahul Gandhi's office, said that strong action will be taken against the culprits.

The SFI organized the march by alleging that Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi was intervening in the buffer zone issue. The SFI activists stormed into Rahul Gandhi's office and vandalized several objects. Following this, the police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the activists. Nearly 50 SFI activists, including women members, participated in the march.

Congress alleged that the SFI activists had damaged the shutters of the office, smashed the window panes and manhandled the office staff.

Later, Congress activists staged protests in various parts of the state to protest against the SFI attack on Rahul Gandhi's office.

A UDF-led rally and protest meeting will be held in Wayanad on Saturday to protest against the attack on Rahul Gandhi's office. The rally will start from Rahul Gandhi's office premises at 2 pm. Following this, a protest meeting will be held in Kalpetta town. AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, MPs Kodikunnil Suresh, MK Raghavan and T Siddique MLA will be present.