Ex-CPI(M) activist hacked to death

According to police, 50-year-old Chandrasekharan was attacked by assailants who came by a car while he was riding a motorcycle alone. Country-made bombs were hurled at him and when he fell off the motorcycle, he was hacked to death with sharp weapons.

Condemning the incident, leaders of the Congress-led UDF alleged that CPI(M) workers could be behind the murder as Chandrasekharan had been an irritant to the party leadership in their stronghold Onjiyam for quite some time.

CPI(M) District Secretary T P Ramakrishan, however, refuted the allegation.

"Our party has nothing to do with this incident. We are opposed to this type of violence", Ramakrishnan said.

Chandrasekharan began his political career as an activist of the CPI(M)'s campus wing SFI. He later became a whole-timer of the party in its stronghold.

Chandrasekharan was once known as a supporter of senior leader V S Achuthanandan and was said to have incurred the wrath of the faction loyal to the party state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

Home Miniter Thiruvanchur Radhakrishan condemned the incident and said an effective investigation would be conducted and culprits brought to book.

Union Minister of State for Home Mullapally Ramachandran expressed profound grief at the murder of Chandrasekharan.

Socialist Janata Democratic leader M P Veerendra Kumar expressed shock at the incident.