KANNUR: There has only ever been one instance in Kerala's political history where a chief minister was pelted with stones. It was against Oommen Chandy. Later, when the accused in the stone pelting case came forward seeking forgiveness, Oommen Chandy patted him on the shoulder and said - "It doesn't matter, let it go forget everything".Kerala also saw the accused in the incident Naseer being hugged by Oommen Chandy during an event.

On October 27, 2013, when the then Chief Minister Oomen Chandy came to the inauguration of a police sports fair in Kannur CPM attacked the Chief Minister's vehicle in continuation of the solar strike. Activists threw stones. It was a massive security lapse when the Chief Minister was attacked while the DGP, ADGPs and hundreds of policemen were present.

Oommen Chandy, who was wounded on the forehead, without even stopping for first aid and inaugurated the fair. He was injured above his eyes and on his chest. He sought treatment after the ceremony. There were jokes that he was in the hospital for sympathy. Later, when Oommen Chandy removed his shirt at a press conference at Cliff House in Thiruvananthapuram, everyone saw the injuries.

Despite stone-pelting and injuring of a Chief Minister, lathi-charged police terror did not go on in Kannur. But the Congress workers could not understand the decision to forgive those who threw stones. Oommen Chandy persuaded K. Sudhakaran who reacted emotionally by raising the attack on the Chief Minister on his platform as a matter of pride. He even opposed the idea of a Hartal. Oommen Chandy, who was familiar with Kannur's political history, knew that if violence started, blood would flow. He was responding to the boiling politics of Kannur with patience. Oommen Chandy did not even mention the names of the two MLAs in the court even after he recognised them on the day of the incident.

Most of the accused were charged with attempted murder. Three persons including Naseer were sentenced to prison. 110 people, including former MLAs C. Krishnan and K K Narayanan, were acquitted.