THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state police has informed that the prohibitory orders that were to end on Sunday has been extended until August 2 in the wake of unrest in the city. Security has been beefed up at offices of CPM and BJP following the murder of RSS leader R.L. Rajesh. District leaders of parties' including CPM's Anavoor Nagappan were provided additional security. Apart from the regular police force, two companies of 70 policemen each where deployed in city taking the total strength of personnels deployed to around 400.
At around the time of funeral procession of slain RSS leader S.L. Rajesh, there was violence at places such as Palayam. A scooter was set ablaze by protestors near University College. All forms of demonstrations, sloganeering, protest marches, and meetings have been prohibited in the city. State Police Chief Lokanath Behera has appealed people to restrain from rumour mongering and passing provocative messages over social media.
Funeral procession
Around a thousand BJP workers took part in the funeral procession that began on receiving the body of Rajesh at around 2.40pm after autopsy. The body was earlier subjected to an inquest under medical college circle inspector in the morning at the private hospital at Anayara. Further, the body was taken to Medical College Hospital. A large posse of workers under MLA O. Rajagopal was present here. Security has been organised under officers including Cyber city Assistant Commissioner Pramod Kumar and District Crime Records Bureau Assistant Commissi-oner Prathapan Nair.
Family mourns Rajesh
Abhishek, an LKG student at Kariyam and his elder brother Adithyan, standard I student at Pattom, stood crying as if they understood that their father S.L. Rajesh will never return. Rajesh, an RSS activist since his youth, was a mason who was toiling hard to afford better education for his children as they grew up. He recently bought an autorickshaw for his younger brother Rajeev, remember neighbours.
The man was lynched by around a dozen youths as he was fetching milk and dough for breakfast on Sunday. However, the day turned out to be the worst and unforgettable for the family, said Rajesh’s wife Reena as she sobbed. He leaves behind father Sudharshan and mother Lalitha Kumari. Over a 1,000 workers including state leaders came to pay homage for the man.
