A CPI (M) worker was hacked to death allegedly by RSS-BJP men on Wednesday night at Chittariparamba near Koothuparamba in Kannur.

According to police, O Preman, 45, a toddy tapper, was attacked. An armed gang hurled bombs to scare people away, before hacking O Preman, 45, a toddy tapper, police said. He had sustained serious injuries on both legs. He was rushed to a hospital in Thalassery but succumbed to injuries on Thursday morning.

A hartal was observed in Kannur district, in protest against the murder. Police have registered a case against 10 BJP-RSS workers. The district administration has convened a peace meeting on Friday.

CPI (M) district secretary P Jayarajan said the Sangh Parivar has converted the district into battle ground after the BJP government came to power at the Centre.

Kannur district, which had a long blood-stained history of cyclical political violence, had remained peaceful for the recent years. However, things have changed after BJP stepped up its membership campaign after the party assumed power at the Centre. Several pro-CPI (M) men had joined the BJP in the recent months.

RSS leader Valsan Thillankery said CPI (M) workers were attacking those who had abandoned their party to join BJP. “We have maintained utmost restraint even after the murder RSS district-level functionary E Manoj, in September last year. If we lose this self-control, the repercussions would be far reaching. The district is on the brink of a confrontation. In the recent months, the BJP-RSS workers had faced around 100 attacks from CPI (M). Around 400 persons were injured and 70 offices were attacked in the recent months,” said the RSS leader.

In the recent months, there have been frequent incidents of tension between CPI (M) and BJP workers in Kannur district, which had been once known for blood-stained political violence. On Tuesday night, a CPI (M) area committee office was attacked and a worker was injured.

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