A police officer was seriously injured after a youth allegedly attacked him with a helmet during the Onam celebrations at Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam, late Sunday.

Sreejith, a civil police officer attached to the Special Armed Police (SAP) Camp, suffered serious injuries in the attack. The Museum Police have arrested the accused, who has been identified as Akhil Krishnadev.

The incident took place after the police had asked the festival-goers to leave the Kanakakkunnu Palace premises around 10 p.m. after the formal conclusion of the Onam celebrations.

Soon, a crowd moved towards Manaveeyam Veedhi, following which personnel from the Museum Police and the SAP Camp were deployed to clear the area. When the crowd initially refused to disperse, the police reportedly used force to remove them from the location.

After the crowd was cleared, the police personnel sat down at a nearby platform to rest. This was when Akhil, who had earlier left the area, purportedly returned carrying a helmet and attacked Sreejith on the head. 

Akhil sustained six stitches to his head and was admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital for treatment. The police have recorded his statement from the hospital.