Kochi: Violent clashes took place between CPM and BJP workers in different parts of the state on Saturday in the wake of the killing of a CPM worker in Kasargod and a BJP worker in Thrissur district on Friday.
Several houses of CPM workers in Azheekkal in Kannur district were attacked while two RSS workers were stabbed in Thodupuzha in Idukki district on Saturday.
CPM worker C. Narayanan, 45, was hacked to death by unidentified assailants at Kodom Belur in Kasargod on Friday.
Abhilash, 32, son of Katoorveetil Mani, and his friend Satheesh were attacked by a group of persons nearthe Kothengalam temple at Vasupuram on Friday evening. Although the two were rushed to a hospital in Thrissur, Abhilash succumbed to injuries while Satheesh is undergoing treatment.
The hartal called by the BJP in Puthukkad Assembly constituency and Kodakara panchayat in Thrissur district in protest against the killing of Abhilash passed off peacefully barring a few minor incidents of violence.The CPM office and the flag post at Vasupuram were destroyed by miscreants.
BJP leaders and workers brought the body of Abhilash to his residence in a procession after the post-mortem in Thrissur Medical College. BJP leader V. Muraleedharan told reporters that the killing of Abhilash was yet another instance of the politics of intolerance by the CPM. He also blamed the home department for the killing.
The police arrested two persons identified as Shanto, 26, and Jeethu, 29, in connection with the murder on Thiruvonam day.
The arrested are known to be workers of CPM, said a police official in Kodakara. According to him, seven persons were suspected to be involved in the killing.
Thrissur rual police SP N. Vijayakumar said that the incident appears to be a sequel to the clashes between the CPM and BJP activists in the area. The accused in the case and the victims belong to the same locality, he said.
The BJP leadership in the district alleged that it was a planned action by the CPM on account of political enmity. CPM district secretary A.C. Moideen, however, denied the involvement of the party in the matter. “The incident is a fallout of a drunken brawl that took place on Thursday and the BJP is trying to give a political colour to it,” he said.
