On Kerala violence, BJP leader O Rajagopal said, "It's a breakdown of law and order situation"

The 46-year-old woman BJP activist died of severe burns after her house was set on fire and another BJP worker was hacked to death today in a spurt in political violence in Kerala.Vimala, whose husband is also a BJP member, died on Monday of 70 per cent burns, over two weeks after her house in Palakkad burnt down in an attack allegedly by activists of the ruling CPM. Three CPM activists have been arrested.On December 28, Vimala, her husband and her brother-in-law were at home when the attackers allegedly set fire to few bikes parked in front. When she and the others rushed out to put out the fire, there was a sudden gas explosion and they were all left badly burnt.Vimala's brother-in-law, also a BJP worker, died a week after the attack. Her husband is still being treated for his burns.This morning, another BJP activist died in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's constituency in Kannur after being attacked on Wednesday night.Santosh Kumar was hacked with sharp weapons around 11.30 pm, say the police. BJP has called for a strike in Kannur."There were no eyewitnesses since it was late night and he was not in a condition to give any statement. But according to initial probe, we suspect CPM supporters behind the incident," said a police source.Two days before this incident, a CPM youth activist was allegedly targeted by BJP activists, but he escaped.Kannur, the politically-charged epicenter of the BJP-CPM rivalry, has witnessed around 10 such murders over the last few months. The violence spiraled in the run-up to the assembly elections last year and continued after the Left-led coalition took power.

"It's a breakdown of law and order situation. And the way things are going I only fear that such political murders will only increase because police are in CPM's control," said BJP lawmaker O Rajagopal told NDTV.In November, two activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS were arrested in Kannur for the murder of a local CPM leader.