Four women arrested for killing BJP activist

The police in Alappuzha on Friday arrested four women in connection with the murder of a local BJP leader, unearthing an alleged plot hatched to serve quick vengeance.

Smitha, Rajani, Girija and Greeshma were arrested on charges of conspiracy that led to the murder of Venugopal (46) in Kalavoor in Alappuzha district in January.

Venugopal was the first accused in a case in connection with the murder of Chandralal, a resident of Kalavoor, two years ago. Smitha is the wife of Chandralal.  The police said Smitha planned the murder to avenge Chandralal’s death by aligning with his sisters Rajani and Girija, and the latter’s daughter Greeshma. Venugopal, who was the party’s Alappuzha constituency secretary, was hacked to death by a group of unidentified men near his home on January 29. He was out on parole when the incident happened.

Police said the four women had approached a gang of assailants and hired them for the job. The murder was initially reported as a possible act of political vendetta and arrests were made on political leads.