Kerala activist working against drug mafia brutally attacked

An activist in Kerala who was trying to expose the state's drug mafia has been left battered in a hospital following a brutal attack by a group of men who chopped off his hands and legs.

Jayakumar R Pillai, who ran a gymnasium at Kappil Junction near Kayamkullam, was attacked by the miscreants when he was on his way home.

"I've been complaining to the police about this mafia for the past one year, I got death threats. My car was stopped by 7-8 people, I was dragged out and attacked with a sword," said Pillai.

Doctors say the 36-year-old activist would take at least a year to recover from the attack but he may still struggle to walk.

"It will probably take him a year or so at least. We will probably get him back home in a week's time or so but he is not able to walk because he cannot hold crutches. Both his hands are in plaster. He has got a fracture on his legs. So his mobilisation is a bit difficult," said Dr. Bipin Theruvil.