CPM members in Pune said RSS activists forced their way into the Pune office of the party and broke furniture.
The CPM office in Pune was attacked by eight unidentified men this evening. The Pune members of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in the office during the time of attack have claimed that the attackers belonged to the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS, and that the attack was an apparent retaliation for the killing of a RSS leader in Kerala on Monday.
The RSS, which is the ideological mentor of the BJP, has however denied the reports. In a statement issued by the group this evening, it said 'efforts are on to defame us. We do not believe in violence.' The right-wing group also added that it wants the police to investigate the incident.
The CPM members have alleged that RSS activists forced their way into the city office of the party and hurled and broke furniture, as well as spilt oil on the floor.
They also claim that the attackers declared they were exacting revenge for Monday's killing of RSS leader E Manoj in the Kannur district of Kerala.
Bombs were thrown at his van and then a group of people attacked him with swords, the police said. A murder case has been registered against six people, all allegedly affiliated to the CPM, the police said. The killing took place as BJP President Amit shah visited Kerala where the party has failed for decades to make any inroads.
Satish Chavan, one of the four senior CPM members present in the office at the time of the attack, said, "one of the eight who attacked us said to us...'what you have done to our member in Kerala is not right. We will take revenge, we will come again'."
A strike called today in Kerala by the BJP and RSS to protest against the murder forced the state into shutdown.