Youth activists of Congress, CPI(M) clash in Adoor; ex-MLA Mamkootathil booked

Police register three cases against CPI(M) and Congress youth activists and former Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathila following clashes in Kerala’s Adoor.

Large-scale clashes broke out between Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) youth activists in Adoor district, prompting the police to register three cases against the activists, including former Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathila, police said.

Police said on Sunday that three cases have been registered against activists of Kerala Students Union (KSU), Youth Congress, Students Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI).

The tension started on Saturday (October 10, 2026) after the university union elections at the College of Engineering, Adoor, police said.

The situation escalated after SFI and DYFI activists protested in Adoor against the detention of CPI(M) leaders in New Delhi, police said.

The first case pertains to the alleged attack by DYFI and SFI activists on two KSU leaders outside a health warehouse in Ezhamkulam during a protest rally around 7:00 pm. The police have registered a case against seven SFI and DYFI activists in connection with the incident, the officers said.

In the second case, two SFI activists were allegedly attacked by a group of about 25 KSU and Youth Congress activists, led by Mr. Mamkootathil, at Adoor General Hospital around 10.50 pm, police said.

The police have registered a case against Mr. Mamkootathila and 26 others, who are Youth Congress and KSU workers, the officers said.

The third case relates to the alleged attack on a Youth Congress worker by SFI activists at a private hospital in Adoor around 11.30 pm. A Youth Congress worker reached the hospital to meet the KSU activist injured in the clash, police said.

Minor clashes were also reported from other parts of Adoor on Saturday evening, police said, adding that efforts were being made to defuse tension and prevent further clashes.

Last year, Mr. Mamkootathil, who was then the Palakkad MLA, was suspended from the Congress following allegations of sexual assault. He also resigned as state president of the Youth Congress following the allegations. Several cases of sexual assault were registered against him and he was arrested, police said. Although Mr. Mamkootathil does not currently hold any position in the Congress, he continues to express his support for the party through regular posts on his social media accounts.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mamkootathil told reporters that he got involved in the incident because the KSU and Youth Congress workers who were attacked were his friends. He was answering questions about his involvement in the clash despite being expelled from the party.

Mr. Mamkootathil denied assaulting anyone and alleged that DYFI and SFI workers assaulted two KSU workers.

Fenny Ninan, a Youth Congress leader and a close friend of Mr. Mamkootathila, told reporters that DYFI workers attacked KSU workers and that the reaction of Youth Congress workers was part of the ensuing clash. He said that Mr. Mamkootathil used to lead Youth Congress workers.

Published – 11 October 2026 21:25 IST