The dubious title of ‘bomb-maker’ is haunting Soopy Narikkatteri, the Indian Union Muslim League candidate in Kuttiady, who is facing a tough battle from K.K. Lathika, the sitting MLA. The CPI (M) is unleashing a whirlwind campaign in Kuttiady alleging that Mr Soopy has connections with the extremists.
The killing of the five IUML workers at an explosion at Narikkatteri on February 27 while they were making bombs has become an embarrassment for Mr Soopy since it happened at a stone’s throw from his house. The CPI (M) leadership says an incident of such a magnitude would not have happened without Mr Soopy’s knowledge.
Mr Soopy is the president of the Nadapuram panchayat, which has bagged the Swaraj trophy of the state government for the best panchayat. He himself was became the target of a bomb attack allegedly carried out by the CPI (M) men. But all that have been lost in the dust and din created by his rivals over the bomb blast.
“Soopy was picked up by police from a house along with others when he was planning an attack in Nadapuram in 2001,” said Mr V.P. Kunhikrishnan, former Nadapuram area secretary of the CPI (M).
“The CPI (M) is playing the communal card to overcome the strong dissidence brewing against the LDF,” said a Youth League local leader.