FILE photo: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
After a phone call from Union Home Minister
Rajnath Singh today, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is calling an all-party meeting to try and broker peace among warring cadres of political organisations in the state.
The BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have called a
bandh today in Kerala to protest against the gruesome murder of a local RSS leader yesterday in Kannur district.
(Read)They allege that the six people who waylaid E Manoj's car, hurled a crude bomb at him, before murdering him were workers of Left party CPM. The attackers are absconding.
Mr Manoj's murder is being seen as a revenge killing. He was an accused in a case involving an attack on a CPM leader 15 years ago.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh called up Mr Chandy today and sought prompt action. Mr Chandy has reportedly rushed a team of senior officials to Kannur, which is in an area considered politically volatile.
There has been violence involving RSS and CPM workers in the past, but the region has been largely calm in the last few years.
Tension resurfaced recently with rival parties accusing each other of poaching workers.
There has been no incident of violence in Kannur today.
(Read)BJP chief Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat were in the state yesterday, the latter wrapping up a week-long visit, the former to add muscle to the party's lean cadre in the state.
Mr Shah referenced the incident, telling party workers in Thiruvananthapuram, "Nearly 250 party workers have been murdered in Kerala's northern region by CPM... we will take this fight to the courts and to the people."