Hartal in a Kollam panchayat after 70-yr-old CPI (M) worker stabbed to death

Following an altercation, the accused Shajahan, a Congress worker, came to Basheer’s house and stabbed him, the police said.

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A 70- year-old man from Kollam district was stabbed to death on Saturday allegedly by his acquaintance Shajahan. AM Basheer, a native of Chithara panchayat near Kadaykkal in Kollam district, was also a CPI (M) worker and district committee member, while Shajahan is an activist with the Congress.

In a statement, Basheer's brother Salahudheen said that political vengeance led to his death.

The CPI (M) party alleged that political vengeance caused the murder. State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, in a Facebook post, said that the Congress had warned of consequences in the Kasargod murder of Youth Congress worker Kripesh and Sarath. The hartal was called as a protest by the party.

However, the police are yet to confirm if political vengeance was behind the murder. According to Kadaykkal police, there was an altercation between Basheer and Shajahan on Saturday morning.

“It's said that Basheer had called Shajahan by his nickname, which provoked the latter. Later, around 2 pm, Shajahan came to Basheer's house at Mahadevarkunnu with a knife and stabbed Basheer on his chest,” the police said.

“Basheer was stabbed when he was taking shower outside the house. Although his wife and a woman living in their neighbourhood tried to save Basheer, Shajahan attacked them also," the police added.

Some reports stated that Basheer sustained nine injuries on his chest, although the police didn't confirm this.

Though Basheer was shifted to Taluk hospital in Kadaykkal, he was declared brought dead.

Shajahan was taken into custody on Saturday night.

The Congress, however, denied any involvement in Basheer’s death.

Basheer earned his living by selling tapioca in a market. Basheer was living with Salahudheen and his family.