Thiruvananthapuram The long-standing feud between the ruling Communist Party of India Marxist and Bharatiya Janata Party cadres in Kerala witnessed another ugly chapter on Thursday night, this time in the state capital.

Houses and vehicles of leaders and cadres of both parties were attacked over several hours on Thursday night, with incidents being reported from Attukal, Manacaud and Maruthumkuzhi among other places in the capital city.

In one of the attacks, six vehicles including that of BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan that were parked near the party’s state headquarters were smashed. In an apparent retaliation, assailants attacked the house of Binish Kodiyeri, son of CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

Criticism was also directed at the police force after closed-circuit camera images showed the assailants running riot even as a couple of policemen were watching. One policeman could be seen attempting to stop the attackers, while two others remained onlookers.

The two policemen who were seen to be standing idle during the attacks were placed on suspension. One of the policemen who boldly faced the attackers and tried to get the registration number of a bike used by them, was injured.

Nearly 500 policemen have been deployed in various parts of Thiruvananthapuram district following the attacks, and several police teams have been constituted to nab the assailants who were involved in the incidents.

State police chief Loknath Behera said eight persons had been taken into custody in connection with the attacks. Added security backup has been provided to offices of political parties, including CPM’s state headquarter, AKG Bhavan.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president M.M. Hassan alleged that the CPM was resorting to violence to turn the public attention away from its governance failures, and that the BJP was in it to divert attention from the corruption allegations against its members.

BJP’s lone MLA in Kerala, O. Rajagopal alleged that the CPM was using the police establishment to unleash attacks against opponents.