BJP leader hacked to death; tension in Kodungallur

Tension prevailed in Kodungallur after BJP’s municipal area secretary Sathyesh (33) succumbed to injuries he suffered in a brutal attack allegedly by CPI(M) activists.

Sathyesh, who was admitted to a private hospital in Kochi in very serious condition after he suffered 42 wounds in an attack on Tuesday evening, died in the wee hours of Wednesday. He was attacked at Kotaparambu near here.

Kodungaloor turned tense with the news of Sathyesh’s death spreading. There were incidents of violence and a police party was attacked by a crowd. DySP Unnirajan was injured in stone-pelting. A one-and-a-half-year-old child also was hurt in stone pelting.

Police has registered case against eight CPI(M) workers including DYFI leader Parthasarathy in connection with the murder of Sathyesh.BJP leaders said that the Sathyesh had been in the enemy list of the CPI(M) ever since the last municipal elections. It is said that Sathyesh was instrumental in capturing the Kotaparambu ward of the municipality from the CPI(M). This was the only reason behind the attack, said a BJP leader.

BJP State president PS Sreedharan Pillai, while condemning the murder, said that the top CPI(M) leadership of the district was directly responsible for the incident. He also said that the CPI(M) had targeted Satheysh as the BJP had transformed into a major force in Kodungallur municipality with the party winning five seats in the municipal elections. Sathyesh is survived by his wife Saritha and a son, Nandakrishnan.

Meanwhile, the hartal called by the BJP on Wednesday in Kodugallore in protest against the attack was total. All the shops remained closed and the vehicles kept off the roads.

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