CPM activist, BMS leader hacked to death in Kannur

Political violence returned to Kannur district with two overnight murders — of a CPM activist and a leader of the BJP-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) — leaving the politically sensitive regions in the district on alert on Tuesday.

According to the police, C V Dhanaraj (38), a CPM branch committee member, was hacked to death by a group of unidentified assailants at his home in Ramanthali, at about 10 pm on Monday. Around midnight, BMS leader and an auto-rickshaw driver C K Ramachandran (52) was killed at his home in Annur by unidentified men. Reports said the assailants hurled bombs before attacking Ramachandran.

Both the political camps alleged “unprovoked” violence on a day the state police chief Loknath Behera visited Payyannur to take stock of the security situation. Clashes and vandalism were also reported from other parts of the district.

The CPM protested Dhanaraj’s killing by holding a hartal in Payyannur. BJP national secretary H Raja told reporters that the party will not remain silent in the face of violence and said more attacks against Sangh activists in Kannur could necessitate action from the Centre.