Leaked video of Congress leaders creating ruckus at Adoor police station sparks political row in Keralam

The controversy triggered by the abrupt shift of former CPI leader Sreenadevi Kunjamma to the Congress ahead of the previous local body elections in Keralam appears nowhere near its end.Months after the Adoor police booked 20 persons in connection with an attempt to assault YouTuber Rajan Joseph while bringing him to the police station in a defamation case, video footage of the episode showing Ms. Kunjamma and Youth Congress leader Fenny Ninan creating a ruckus at the Adoor police station emerged in the public domain on Saturday (October 31, 2026).The visuals, which have gone viral on social media, show a mob of over 20 people camping at the station between 10:15 pm and 12 am on July 11, even as the police stood by without taking any action. The group barged into the station and assaulted a suspect who had been taken into police custody. At one point, Ms. Kunjamma, currently an elected member of the Pathanamthitta district panchayat, is seen directly confronting Mr. Joseph, who was lodged in the lock-up.Following the incident, the Adoor police booked a case against 20 persons in connection with the assault, in which at least one police officer sustained injuries. The police, however, never initiated any action on the case or even identified any of the accused, triggering allegations of political high-handedness.Fresh ammunition for CPI(M)The leak of the footage, meanwhile, has given fresh ammunition to the CPI(M), which has been locked in a bitter war of words with Ms. Kunjamma and other Congress leaders over their alleged association with expelled Congress leader Rahul Mamkoottathil. CPI(M) area secretary S. Manoj has accused the police of acting as a shield for Ms. Kunjamma and her criminal gang.“Police officers are in a helpless state. At least they must ensure the safety of their fellow personnel. Mr. Joseph was rescued from the gang and brought inside the station, yet the police allowed Ms. Kunjamma access to approach him inside the lockup,” he said.Holding that attacking a police station between 11 pm and 12 am “is unheard of” in Keralam, he also noted that the police claim they are unable to identify the culprits, which exposes their bias.Ms. Kunjamma, meanwhile, was not available for comment despite multiple attempts. She is expected to address the media later in the day at the District Congress Committee office in Pathanamthitta. Published - October 31, 2026 02:18 pm IST