Political killings: Raw and brutal

Sporadic incidents of political violence rocked the state amid Onam celebrations with two activists of the CPI (M) and the BJP hacked to death in separate incidents in Kasargod and Thrissur districts on Thiruvonam day.

CPI (M) activist C Narayanan was killed by unknown assailants at Kodom Belur in Kasaragod on Friday which was the Thiruvonam day. BJP worker Abhilash was stabbed to death the same day at Kodakara Panchayat in Thrissur district. Both the parties called for a dawn to dusk hartal in the respective districts, involving in retaliatory attacks against the opponents and spurring violence in many districts. The party workers unleashed attacks on many houses and party offices in Kannur, Kasargod and Kodakara with country bombs used to target houses of the activists. Two CPI (M) workers and two RSS activists were attacked in Kannur and Thoduppuzha respectively on Sunday. Despite the curfews imposed, the clashes continued sparking fears over the once active political killings and violence in the state that were thought to have subsided. Festive occasions are no good reasons for the assailants to carry out the attacks and killings for they are paid hefty sums by the ‘righteous’ senior leaders who raise local thugs and goons for personal and petty motives. The targeted families lose their male members bearing the brunt of such political killings. The raw and brutal line of attack of heinous politics in Kerala has not changed with time. The government in power responsible for curbing the violence and murders has not been able to do much in this direction so far.

Activists belonging to the ruling party murdered a person in Chavakkad in Thrissur district. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the attacks were a ‘planned move’ by the CPI (M) and BJP to spread violence in the state. If the avidity exhibited in safeguarding the criminals is followed in taking effective steps and implementing legal procedures, the atrocities would have been long back curbed. The authorities should penalize the culprits and their supporters instead of uttering mere ineffective criticisms. The political parties are not free from committing such crimes even though violence and killings are not part of their proclaimed policies. The party would come to the rescue of the people involved in such crimes. They compete with other parties in scorning the interventions and protests deemed anti-public as raw and outdated and declare not to bring coalition politics in the way of progress and development. It’s these political parties that should stay away from such ruthless practices and curb the ailment afflicting them. They should focus more on the development of the state and the progress and wellbeing of its people. Attempts like the Swachh Bharat campaigns by the BJP and the organic farming revolution by the CPI (M) that have garnered appreciation from the people and becoming popular in the state are instances of increasing public support for the parties.