Kottayam: A case has been filed against P C George MLA for waving a pistol at a group of people, said to be estate workers, who allegedly shouted slogans at him and "challenged" him during his visit at a site near an estate in the district to take stock of a land dispute.
George, an independent MLA representing Poonjar in Kerala Assembly, has been charged with murder attempt and threatening.
The case will be probed by Mundakayam Sub-inspector Prasad Abraham Varghese under the supervision of Kanjirappally DySP.
Police said that the statement of the estate workers who filed the complaint will be recorded soon.
George had justified the act, took place on Thursday, saying he "displayed" the pistol when a "group of goons challenged" him while visiting 52 poor families staying near the estate at Mundakkayam.
Visuals aired by various television channels showed George standing amid some people and waving the pistol when they shouted slogans at him.
He said he visited the place after members of 52 poor families who have been staying on the banks of a river adjacent to the estate for several decades complained that "goons" were using abusive language and "showing violent behaviour" towards them during nights.
He alleged that such "hooliganism" was being done at the estate owners’ behest to "evict them from their land."
"The goons used abusive language against me, when I advised women staying in the shelters to throw diluted acid at the elements abusing them at nights."
"They (the goons) challenged me to take out the gun. I then displayed the Czech pistol I was carrying... just to convince them that I am carrying one. It is a licenced gun," George, who won as an independent in the assembly polls last year, told PTI.
George is presently founder leader of a political outfit called the Kerala Janapaksham Party.
Some estate workers alleged that the MLA used abusive language against them leading to the melee.