Thiruvananthapuram: The police have taken ten persons into custody in the case in which RSS activist Rajesh from Vinayak Nagar was hacked to death in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. Five among them including prime accused Manikkuttan were directly involved in the crime. The police said that the other five had aided the attackers in the assault. Apart from Manikkuttan, those arrested included Gireesh, Mahesh and Pramod hailing from Karumbonam. The names of other accused were not available. The arrests were made by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DySP Pramod Kumar.

The investigation and other proceedings are being supervised by IG, Manoj Abraham. The IG said that the inspection is being conducted without prejudices. A probe is on to nab those who arranged vehicles for the attackers. As many as 13 people are being interrogated at various police stations across the district. Meanwhile, the body of the slain RSS activist has been shifted from the private hospital to Thiruvananthapuram medical college for post mortem.



Meanwhile, a press release by the state police department said that every effort is being taken to nab the culprits involved in the murder of the RSS activist as soon as possible. "The police have been instructed to strictly deal with any attempt for violence and adequate force has been deployed in all sensitive spots. The state police chief has also appealed social media to restrain from spreading rumors and provocative messages, which would also attract legal action," the release said.

Political murder



Rajesh Edavakode, 34, was hacked to death at Sreekaryam near here Saturday night, escalating the tension that had engulfed the city following recent clashes between activists of the CPM and the Sangh Parivar.

Rajesh was attacked by a gang when he was going home after attending the daily meeting of his organization. He succumbed to the injuries at a private hospital here.

The BJP leaders were quick to accuse the CPM of executing the attack. S.Suresh, district president of the BJP, said the murder was the culmination of the attack being unleashed on the BJP/RSS in activists Thiruvananthapuram by the CPM.

Hartal on Sunday

The BJP has called for a hartal in Kerala on Sunday to protest against the murder. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan announced the hartal, terming it the attack on party workers “government sponsored”.

The CPM rubbished the allegations and said the party had no role in the murder. Party leaders said personal grudge was the reason for the murder.

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The assailants had chopped off Rajesh's palm and hacked on his face. He was rushed to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College by local residents, but later shifted to the private hospital. The police have camped in the Sreekaryam area and on the premises of the hospital where Rajesh was admitted.

A spate of violent incidents were reported from the state capital early Friday after workers of the ruling CPM and the BJP vandalized party offices and damaged vehicles. Houses of party workers also bore the brunt of the attacks, including the residence of Bineesh Kodiyeri, son of CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

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