BJP calls for shutdown in Kerala over party worker's murder

A CPI(M) party worker, K Mohanan, was allegedly hacked to death by RSS activists on October 10

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday called for a shutdown in Kerala to protest against the murder of a party activist in Kannur on October 11, alleging that the Communist Party of India-Marxist was behind the killing.

The announcement was made by state BJP President, Kummanem Rajashekeran, who said that the victim, Remith, was murdered near the house of Kerala's Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan.

According to police officials, the 26-year-old driver was attacked in front of a petrol pump in Pinarayi village.

Levelling further charges against the ruling party, Rajashekaran said that Remith's father was also murdered by CPI(M) workers.

This is the second murder of a party worker in the left-ruled southern state this week. Previously a 52-year-old CPI(M) grassroot leader, K Mohanan, was  allegedly hacked to death by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activists on October 10.

Both murders took place in Vijayan's Dharmadom constituency.

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has called upon both the parties-CPI-M and BJP-to end the politics of murder.

"The situation in Kannur has turned worse and people are living in fear over the way the two parties are taking on each other," Chennithala said. "The police appear to have lost control of the situation."

Since Vijayan assumed office in May, four BJP and three CPI-M workers have been eliminated in Kannur district.