Man booked for attack on poll squad

Thiruvananthapuram: Anchuthengu police have registered a case against a Congressman for allegedly attacking members of the election defacement squad on duty at Kayikkara near Anchuthengu. Though the accused was identified, the police did not reveal his name as he is yet to be arrested.
According to the police, the accused tried to physically abuse the squad members and even damaged their video camera.The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon when the squad, comprising around 10 members, were removing the UDF candidate's campaign posters that were stuck on palm trees that stood inside the premises of the Government UP School, Kayikkara. The team was led by deputy tahsildar Premlal.
"The Congress party's election committee office was located next to the school and the accused rushed to the squad members from the office and manhandled some of them," said sub inspector K Kannan. The police have registered a case under sections pertaining to obstructing duty of government servants and also damaging public property. The accused is still at large.
Suicide of LDF supporter sparks tension at Thumba: he alleged suicide of a 30-year-old man caused minor tension at Thumba on Tuesday. Biju Alexander of Valiyaveli was found hanging in his house on Tuesday morning. The suicide note retrieved from his body mentioned three persons in the neighbourhood. The deceased was an LDF supporter and the others were Congress supporters.
However, police rubbished the rumours regarding political rivalry being the reason behind the suicide. SI Jeyasanil said that the deceased was a substance abuser and was frequently involved in miscreant activities. His dispute with the persons named in the suicide note could not be seen as political. "However, we are probing more into the case," the SI said.