City
Epaper

Political intimidation alarm in Kerala after funeral wreath placed at critic’s residence

By IANS | Updated: February 19, 2026 10:10 IST

Kannur Feb 19 In a chilling display of political intimidation, a wreath was discovered on Thursday morning outside ...

Open in App

Kannur Feb 19 In a chilling display of political intimidation, a wreath was discovered on Thursday morning outside the home of writer and social critic V.S. Anilkumar in Kannapuram, Kerala.

The wreath was placed near the gate of his residence in the Marutham area, drawing immediate attention and concern from the public and political circles.

Anilkumar is the son of the late renowned professor M.N. Vijayan.

The incident comes in the wake of Anilkumar’s recent participation in the release of the book 'Nethruthtwathine Anikal Thiruthanam (The Leadership Must Be Corrected by the People)', authored by CPI(M) dissident V. Kunjikrishnan.

Beyond attending the launch, Anilkumar has frequently criticised the CPI(M) leadership, both publicly during the book event and on social media posts.

Reacting to it, Anilkumar said, "I have no fear at all. Have been living for a long time now, so the question of fear doesn’t exist.”

Anilkumar first noticed the wreath this morning while opening the gate to send his son to football coaching.

He promptly informed the Kannapuram police, who have registered a case and begun a formal investigation.

Authorities are looking into the possibility of a politically motivated threat, recalling past incidents in Kannur where wreaths were used to intimidate political opponents.

The placement of a wreath, a traditional symbol of mourning, outside a private residence is widely seen as an unsettling message.

Political analysts note that such acts aim to instil fear and suppress dissent, particularly when targeting individuals known for outspoken criticism.

With Kerala’s political climate already tense ahead of upcoming local and state-level events, the case is expected to become a significant topic of debate.

Meanwhile, the Kannapuram police continue their investigation, examining potential motives and suspects.

Reacting to it, Kunjikrishnan said no one has any doubt about who has done this.

Kunjikrishnan has been taking on the wrongdoings of the way the Kannur district unit of the party has been handling the issue of swindling of funds related to a party martyr that he raised.

Following his stern stand, he was ousted from the party.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Open in App

Related Stories

Other SportsIPL 2026: Gill, Washington Sundar, Buttler smash fifties each, power GT to 210/4 against DC

Other Sports​ISL 2025-26: Jamshedpur FC face Mumbai City FC in a top-of-the-table clash

BusinessGovt cuts landing, parking charges for airlines by 25 per cent to keep airfares affordable

CricketIPL 2026: Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and Jos Buttler Power Gujarat Titans to 210/4 vs Delhi Capitals (VIDEO)

NationalBengal: Adhir Chowdhury’s escort vehicle hit by truck, EC seeks report​

National Realted Stories

NationalGovt cuts landing, parking charges for airlines by 25 per cent to keep airfares affordable

NationalCM Fadnavis pushes Maharashtra to lead in PCI​

NationalYSRCP complains to NBDA, NCW over derogatory TV remarks​

NationalBengal: Arms recovered from minor ahead of Assembly Polls​

NationalSikkim CM meets PM Modi, discusses key development issues