Skip to main content
xYOU DESERVE INDEPENDENT, CRITICAL MEDIA. We want readers like you. Support independent critical media.

Ahead of Local Body Polls in Kerala, CPI(M) Worker Killed Allegedly by RSS Men

During the past four months, five CPI (M) activists have been murdered allegedly by BJP/RSS and Congress workers in the state.
Ahead of Local Body Polls in Kerala, CPI(M) Worker Killed Allegedly by RSS Men

Manilal. Image Courtesy: The News Minute

A day ahead of the first phase of local body elections in Kerala, a Communist Party of India (Marxist), worker was stabbed to death, allegedly by RSS men at Monroe Thuruth in Kollam district on Sunday night. Manilal, 52, who had returned from the Gulf five years ago, was reportedly attacked while he was talking to a friend a short distance from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) booth office near the Monroe Island village office.

The first phase of local body elections in Kerala will be held on December 8 and December 6 was the last day of campaign.

Two Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) men -- Ashokan and Sathyan -- have been arrested by the East Kallada police in connection with the killing.  According to report, Ashokan, who came with Sathyan, an auto driver, stabbed Manilal after hurling abuses. As Manilal fell to the ground, he was stabbed twice more in the chest. LDF activists rushed him to the nearby Kanjirakode Taluk Hospital and Kollam District Hospital. He later died on the way to Palathara NS Hospital. Manilal, an aluminum fabrication worker, was the sole breadwinner of his family, which includes his wife and daughter.

As per reports, Ashokan became active in the RSS after taking voluntary retirement from Delhi Police about five months ago. He obtained Bharatiya Janata Party membership directly from state president K Surendran. Ashokan's wife Monroe Thuruth was BJP's dummy candidate in the Nenmenitek ward.

The killing took place in an area which has no political tension whatsoever. As per reports, Manilal had recently questioned some RSS men regarding damage to flags banners of CPI(M), after which some  RSS men had allegedly threatened him and some others.

Prior to joining the CPI(M),  Manilal was a BDJS (Bharath Dharma Jana Sena) activist, a BJP ally in the state. He joined the CPI(M) two years ago, which is why RSS-BJP activists were hostile to him.

Protesting against the killing of Manilal, A Vijayaraghavan, CPI (M) state secretary in charge, wrote on Facebook: "I urge all democrats to condemn and protest this brutal assassination."

The CPI(M) has termed the murder as the result of a “planned conspiracy” by the RSS to disrupt law and order in the region just 24 hours before the local body polls. According to the party, RSS is trying to create an atmosphere of terror and thus disrupt the elections.

During the past four months, five CPI (M) activists have been murdered, allegedly by BJP/RSS and Congress workers in the state. On August 18, 35-year-old Siyad, a fish seller, was stabbed to death at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district. Siyad, who was active in COVID-19 first line treatment centres and other relief activities, was returning from a quarantine centre after delivering food for the inmates. Siyad’s killers reportedly have “clear links” to Congress and were allegedly aided by Congress's municipal councilor, say sources.

On August 30, two young activists of CPI(M) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI)- Haq Muhammad and Mithilaj -- stabbed to death in Thiruvanathapuram. The accused in this twin murder are Congress activists. Again on October 4, U Sanoop, was murdered by Right-wing activists in Thrissur district. The arrested men reportedly have links with RSS and Bajrang Dal.

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.

Subscribe Newsclick On Telegram

Latest