Kannur: Health Minister Veena George sustained neck and hand injuries Wednesday during a scuffle between police and Kerala Students Union (KSU)-IUML youth wing protesters at Kannur railway station, forcing her to cancel a Vande Bharat trip and seek hospital treatment.
George arrived to board the train after official programmes when Congress-KSU and IUML activists staged a demonstration. As police cleared her path, jostling ensued with George caught in between, triggering radiating neck pain.
Speaker A.N. Shamseer, who had just entered, witnessed the melee escalate on the platform. George, speaking by phone, reported worsening discomfort, abandoned travel, and was trolleyed to Kannur District Hospital for checks.
CPI(M) leaders and workers rushed to the hospital as doctors assessed her. Shamseer condemned the manhandling as "unacceptable" and dangerous to democratic norms, despite protests being legitimate.
Police will probe the security lapse at the station.
(Inputs from IANS)