PALAKKAD: Even as the attack on the children’s Christmas carol group triggered political protests, parents of the children protested against the statement of BJP leader C Krishnakumar, who appeared to justify the attack.Krishnakumar claimed the group members were drinking and described the group as a criminal team that took a band set from the CPM area committee office. Talking to the media on Wednesday, the parents said the children were out caroling, as they do every year, when the incident occurred, and that the group comprised only children aged 10-15, with no adults present. They said both students and their families were affected by the incident, adding that Krishnakumar’s statement was even more distressing. They expressed their willingness to file a complaint over the mental anguish the children faced in the aftermath of the incident.In protest, DYFI announced that carols in protest would be held across 2,500 units in the district. Congress alleged that the attack was retaliation by BJP as it failed to gain support from the Christian community and described it as a deliberate attempt to disturb communal harmony. Police arrested an RSS worker, Ashwin Raj, in connection with the incident on Tuesday. The incident took place when the carol group, comprising children, was visiting the houses in the area on Sunday night. Police said the crime occurred in an area where the RSS is considered to have a strong presence. As per the complaint, the accused confronted the carol group and destroyed their band set and other articles. The official report stated he was intoxicated when he attacked the children.
