A clash between two groups engaged in gambling in Pala town of Kottayam district during the reception held in connection with a Christian first holy communion led to the murder of a youth. He was stabbed to death during the conflict. Libin Jose (26), a native of Mankara, was killed.

Parumalakunnu Puthan Purakkal House Abhilash Shaji (30), who allegedly committed the murder, was seriously injured. He is currently in Kottayam Medical College Hospital in an unconscious state. Two other injured are also undergoing treatment there.

The accused, Shaji, is allegedly a Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) headload/gawking worker. Although he is an accused in several criminal cases, he is the leader of a gangster squad in Pala that thrives under the shadow of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM). His close relative is the leader of the party youth organisation.

The quarrel arose between Ernakulam native relatives of the house where the communion ceremony was held and the neighbours, resulting in violence and murder. Libin and his friends got into a verbal argument with the Pala residents over a gambling dispute while drinking and playing cards, which led to a fight.

Libin was then stabbed to death with a pair of scissors. Three people, including a woman, were injured in the violence. That included the injured householder Nirmala and her relative Benny. The incident took place around one o’clock in the morning.

Police allegedly came to know about the conflict late. The news of the youth’s death came when the accused CPM activists were trying to escape from the scene with a police escort.

Friends and relatives of the youth stopped the accused, who were trying to escape. When it was sure that things would get out of hand, the vehicle carrying the accused drove into the police station and escaped. It is reported that the accused, Shaji, collapsed at the station and was admitted to the Medical College Hospital.

The police have not yet registered the arrest of the accused youth. The police also said that Shaji is charged with several other cases.

It is suspected that if the police are not very careful, things will get out of hand. The developments will likely escalate into a gang war challenging Pala’s law and order. The police informed them that his dead body would be handed over to his relatives after post-mortem.

In September 2021, Pala Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangat cautioned his community about love (grooming) and narcotic jihad. He said that these methods are used in places where weapons cannot be used and that Catholic families should guard against this.

Bishop Kallarangat also alleged that special efforts are being made to spread drug use among Catholic youth. There is a situation where non-Muslims, especially girls, are being forced into drug addiction. Drug use is rampant among Catholic youth.

Many girls are converted as part of love jihad. The goal of jihadist groups is to eliminate non-Muslims. The Bishop of Pala said that if we check how the young women of other religions reached the Islamic State (IS) camps, we will understand these things.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) (CPM’s militant wing) state secretariat condemned Pala Bishop’s statement.

This narco/grooming jihad statement also angered the Popular Front of India (PFI) terrorist leaders. PFI activists marched towards the Pala Bishop’s house, raising provocative slogans. The state refused to interfere, and Hindu organisations protected the bishop.

During the September 2022 security raids, Pala Bishop Joseph Kallarangat’s name was indicated on the hit list found in the raid on the homes and institutions of the PFI leaders.

Pala Bishop’s name was also included in the social media campaign conducted by PFI. His name was included in the hit list (of the main enemies of the Muslim community), and the campaign was carried out in secret sleeper cell groups on social media.

The hit list was also included in the information provided by the NIA in the court when they wanted eleven arrested PFI leaders in custody for further investigation. NIA also informed the court that these PFI terrorists should be kept in custody to prevent the region from “drowning in blood.”

Are the communists planning similar mischief by inciting passions using goons? Are they taking over where the PFI left off?