Police personnel protecting Health Minister Veena George during the KSU protest at Kannur railway station on Wednesday. | Photo credit: SK MOHAN
Protests by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its affiliates erupted across the state after Health Minister Veena George sustained injuries to her neck and hand in a clash between black flag activists of the Kerala Students Union (KSU) and the police at the Kannur railway station on Wednesday.
The minister, who was scheduled to leave for Thiruvananthapuram, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Kannur District Hospital. A medical bulletin from the hospital said an expert team had been assigned to assess the severity of the minister’s neck injury.
Police arrested five KSU workers in connection with the incident and charged them with attempted murder.
The episode came amid widespread protests against the minister in recent days by the opposition, who claimed he was collapsing the public health sector. It sparked strong reactions and protest marches by Left and Left-leaning organizations across the state, leading to effigy burning and confrontations with Congress workers.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan visited Ms George in hospital and described the incident as a “heinous attack” on a woman in public office. “The incident reflects the innate wickedness of the Congress leadership. The Congress unleashed a gang of attackers against the minister. It violated all norms of democratic protest and resorted to mob violence,” he said.
Mr. Vijayan said that Kerala’s public health system is renowned and has emerged as the best in the country, according to surveys and audits by various national and international agencies, including NITI Aayog.
The CPI(M) state secretariat condemned the alleged attack and accused the Congress of trying to harm her, citing a recent incident in which protesters laid a funeral wreath at her official residence in Thiruvananthapuram.
Party General Secretary MA Baby called on the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership to condemn the attack. CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan directly blamed Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan for the incident. Left Democratic Front convener TP Ramakrishnan called on the UDF to end such “farcical protests” against Kerala’s robust public health system. Communist Party of India State Secretary Binoy Viswom described the incident as an affront to democratic culture.
However, Mr Satheesan told reporters in Ernakulam that there was no evidence – let alone any video footage – showing the attack on Ms George by KSU workers. He said the UDF would continue to protest against her under the black flag.
Mr Satheesan noted that there were only “four or five” KSU protesters, while an estimated 35 police officers protected Ms George. “No KSU worker came near her. In fact, Mrs. George was seen rushing towards the workers,” he said. He added that the Congress had conducted a preliminary inquiry and found no wrongdoing on the part of the workers. “If any incriminating evidence emerges, the party will take action against them,” he said.
Former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Sudhakaran, an MP, mocked Ms George, calling her “a good actress but not a good health minister” and accusing her of faking the attack. He dismissed it as baseless political drama. “The statements of eyewitnesses and the available footage clearly show that there was no physical attack on the minister,” he said.
Published – 25 Feb 2026 21:29 IST
