Video-clippings which came out on Thursday proved that Wednesday’s brutal attack on two CPI(M) workers on the streets of Mangalam village near Tirur in Kerala’s Muslim-majority Malappuram district was not a simple incident of political violence but was in fact a blood dance performed by activists of the SDPI, political wing of Islamist outfit PFI, out of vengeance.

The video showed activists of the Social Democratic Party of India attacking two CPM workers with swords after blocking their car on a street in broad daylight in presence of many people. The two victims, admitted to Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode in a serious condition, were identified as AK Majeed and Arshad.

The SDPI activists without caring to mask their faces were seen going about their “mission” in ice-cold calmness, according to eyewitnesses. They could be seen hacking one of the victims repeatedly when he was crying out in pain, “Oh, Allah... My son, why are you doing this to meIJ” The assailants could also be seen kicking on the head of the already wounded victim.

By Thursday evening, the police arrested four of the assailants while reports said that the leaders of the SDPI group could surrender late in the night. local residents said that the police had failed to reach the spot of violence even a long time after they were informed of the goings on at Mangalam.

Eyewitnesses said that they were unable to help the victims as the assailants were circling them carrying swords. “The movements of the assailants reflected a determination which only professional killers are capable of possessing. They seemed to be in no hurry, as though they had got the assurance that there would not be any police intervention,” said an eye-witness.

“The CPI(M) people had reached the spot from their office when the attack was still on following which the assailants fled on their mnotorbikes. Even then, the police had not arrived,” said a shop-owner of the area.

The police had allegedly refused to act even after 24 hours had passed since the incident though the identity all the Islamists had already been revealed. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala confirmed that the attack was indeed carried out by SDPI activists and said that stringent action would be taken soon.

The Popular Front of India (National Development Front in its earlier Avatar) and the SDPI are infamous for terror acts like the chopping off of the right hand of Prof TJ Joseph of Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam district in July, 2010 in revenge for setting a test paper for students in which a particular question had allegedly blasphemed Prophet Muhammad.

The attack on the CPIM men is said to have occurred after an altercation between participants in a leftist demonstration, taken out to celebrate victory of their candidates in a by-poll in Mangalam Grama Panchayat, and some SDPI men. The left had wrested three seats from Muslim league, second biggest constituent of Cong-led ruling UDF.

The SDPI men left the scene but their associates came back after some time on motorbikes and attacked the CPI(M) men after blocking their car. The CPI(M) has alleged that the SDPI had carried out the attack to satisfy the Muslim league which was burning in humiliation due to the defeat in the by-poll.