Bombs were thrown at KT Manoj's van, he was then attacked with swords.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS has demanded that the union home ministry order an investigation by a central agency into the murder of a local leader in Kannur district of Kerala. (
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The RSS alleges that KT Manoj was hacked to death by activists of Left party the CPM.
Members of the RSS and the affiliated BJP skipped a "peace meeting" called by the Kannur district collector today. The activist's murder has intensified the bitter feud between the RSS and CPM in the state and the official had invited local leaders of all political parties to ease tension in the region. (
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But CPM has refuted the allegations. Its Kannur District Secretary P Jayarajan said, "CPM has nothing to do with this murder".
A Facebook post by the son of a Kerala CPM leader describing the murder as 'good news', has gone viral heightening the tension. Jain Raj, who lives in the Gulf, has since deleted his post, but in other comments justified it saying his father had been attacked 14 years ago by a group of men including Manoj. (
On Facebook, Politician's Son Calls RSS Activist's Killing 'Good News')
An angry BJP has demanded action against Jai Raj. "A person who wrote a Facebook post on a murder should be booked. It shows that he could have a role in the murder plan. It is abominable to congratulate killers," state BJP president V Muraleedharan has been quoted as saying. (
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KT Manoj was killed on Monday. Bombs were thrown at his van before a group of people attacked him with swords, the police said.
A murder case has been registered against eight people, all allegedly affiliated to the CPM, the police said.
The killing took place as BJP President Amit shah visited Kerala.