Kochi, Jul 23 (IANS): The ruling Left Front legislator and CPI leader Eldho Abraham on Tuesday was beaten up by the police during a protest, here on Tuesday.

The protest by CPI activists, against the behaviour of the Njarakal circle police inspector and led by Abraham and former legislator P. Raju, was moving towards the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The police first used water cannons and then canes to disburse the protestors. Abraham also got caned during this.

Stating that the police had gone berserk in the state, Abraham said "There are serious law and order issues and no one can control the police today."

Expressing concern over the police action, Revenue Minister and senior CPI leader E Chandrasekheran met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday and said the party disproved of what happened at Kochi. Vijayan assured Chandrasekheran that he would take it up and asked the Ernakulam District Collector to furnish a detailed report on the incident.

CPI Ernakilam district secretary P. Raju was attacked by the CPI-M youth wing activists, when he visited his party members who were beaten up by the CPI-M cadre.

The CPI is the second biggest ally of the CPI-M-led Left Front government. There has been difference of opinion between the two parties for some time.

In November 2017, four CPI ministers in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet boycotted the weekly cabinet meeting to express their resentment the way things were going.