An Enforcement Directorate (ED) convoy was attacked by alleged Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) workers outside the rented residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, 27 May, shortly after federal agency officials concluded searches at the premises. The violence left central security personnel, drivers, and police officers injured, and triggered a political storm in the state capital.

How the Attack Unfolded

According to eyewitnesses, CPI-M workers and sympathisers who had gathered near the residence waylaid the convoy as the ED officials were leaving. Protesters allegedly smashed windowpanes of at least three vehicles using sticks and stones. Police personnel present at the scene reportedly remained passive initially, drawing sharp criticism once visuals from the spot circulated widely.

One driver accompanying the ED team sustained an eye injury after shards of broken glass struck him during the attack. A second driver was also injured. Several police personnel deployed in the area suffered minor injuries while attempting to restore order.

ED Officials Escape; Police Launch Crackdown

Despite the assault, ED officials managed to drive away from the scene and subsequently reached a local police station, where statements regarding the incident were recorded. Shortly after the convoy departed, police swung into action and began detaining protesters involved in the violence.

Several CPI-M workers allegedly fled into a nearby party office to evade arrest. Police later surrounded the office as part of the crackdown. Notably, the attack reportedly took place in the presence of senior CPI-M leaders who had gathered outside the residence during the course of the raid.

The CMRL-Exalogic Case Backdrop

The ED raid is linked to the alleged CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions case, an ongoing probe that has placed the former chief minister at the centre of a federal investigation. The searches on Wednesday represent a significant escalation in that inquiry. This comes amid a broader pattern of friction between central investigative agencies and the Kerala government, which has frequently contested the jurisdiction and intent of such probes.

Questions Over Police Response

The incident has raised serious questions about the conduct of state police during the violence. Visuals from the scene reportedly showed officers failing to intervene immediately as the vehicles were being vandalised. Critics argue that the delayed response amounted to a dereliction of duty, particularly given that central security personnel were present. The episode is likely to intensify demands for accountability from both the Centre and opposition parties in Kerala.

With the ED probe ongoing and political temperatures running high, further developments in the CMRL-Exalogic case are expected to keep Kerala's political landscape under pressure in the days ahead.