Photo; Maktoob
Police protection has been granted to MediaOne Palakkad reporter Sajid Ajmal following alleged threats linked to BJP–RSS circles after his report on a cash-for-votes incident involving BJP leader Sobha Surendran in Palakkad.
The security was provided based on an intelligence assessment, with state police chief Ravada Chandrasekhar directing the Palakkad Superintendent of Police to ensure protection after a formal request from the MediaOne editor.
Ajmal’s report had alleged that Sobha Surendran, an NDA candidate in the district, attempted to influence voters. The issue gained traction after visuals surfaced from the Kannadi area, reportedly showing money being distributed to voters, Maktoob Media reported.
Surendran denied any involvement, stating that she had no connection to the woman seen in the footage and alleging that the claims were fabricated by Congress. However, her response drew scrutiny after media observers pointed to visuals showing the same woman travelling in her vehicle. Reports also cited older photographs, said to have been released by Congress, suggesting a prior association between the two.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Police have initiated a detailed probe into the allegations. Officials said statements had been recorded from complainants and those who captured the footage, and that forensic analysis along with examination of local CCTV footage was underway to determine whether similar incidents occurred elsewhere during the silent campaign period.
Leaders from both LDF and UDF expressed concern over the threats faced by the journalist. Opposition leader V. D. Satheesan described the threats as a challenge to democracy, suggesting they were an attempt to deflect attention from the controversy. He called on the government to act on intelligence inputs, register a case naming Surendran, and take appropriate action.
State minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas said the intelligence report pointing to threats against Ajmal was a serious issue, stressing that such intimidation should be firmly resisted. He added that attempts to undermine democracy through money power had been witnessed in places like Palakkad and Beypore, and said the journalist should be commended for exposing the issue rather than facing threats.
Leaders from the Indian Union Muslim League and the Social Democratic Party of India also condemned the alleged threats.
Welfare Party state president Razak Paleri urged the public to remain vigilant, alleging that there was a pattern of retaliatory action against journalists by BJP–RSS circles when critical reports emerge, and called for strong democratic resistance.