Police teams formed to trace BJP leader's assailants

Special police teams have been formed to trace the assailants who hacked to death BJP's Tamil Nadu unit general secretary V Ramesh even as a state-wide bandh has been called by the party on July 22 to protest the murder.

Protesters, meanwhile, set on fire five government buses to protest the incident even as authorities declared a holiday for schools in the city.

52-year-old Ramesh alias Auditor Ramesh was attacked with sharp-edged weapons near his house here last night by unidentified assailants.

Salem range Police DIG Sanjay Kumar said the BJP leader had gone to his office to discuss party affairs around 9 PM and was attacked by four persons while returning to his residence.

A case has been registered, police said.

Talking to reporters, BJP state unit President Pon Radhakrishnan accused the state government of not providing security to his party leaders.

Condemning the murder, he claimed in the last one year, three state-level leaders-- Arun Reddy, P Murugan and Velliyan-- were murdered and the culprits were still at large. He alleged that police had not taken action on their pleas to provide protection to partymen.

A BJP release said party activists would stage a demonstration in Chennai today condemning the murder and seeking speedy action to trace the assailants and a probe.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had called and enquired about the murder, he said, adding, a state-wide bandh has been called on Monday to condemn the murder.