3 killed in renewed violence in Kannur

Kannur, Mar 5 (UNI) Two RSS activists and a CPI(M) worker were killed and an equal number sustained serious stab injuries in clashes in the politically volatile Thalasseri in this district of Kerala today.

The deceased were identified as P Santhosh(35), Nikhil(22), both RSS activists and M P Ranjith Kumar(39) of CPI(M), police said.

Three RSS activists who suffered serious stab injuries in an attack, allegedly by CPI(M) men, were rushed to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

Tense situation prevailed in the area even as District Collector Ishitha Roy imposed prohibitory orders under the police station limits of Thalassery, Panoor, Chokli, Dharmodam and Kathirur. Police pickets have also been strengthened in the trouble-torn region.

Sangh parivar organisations called a dawn-to dusk Harthal in Kannur District tomorrow to protest the killing of RSS activists.

Kathirur Police said the body of Santhosh of Eruvatty, near Koothuparamba, was found near Panunda Road at Pachapoyika at around 1800 hrs.

Dharmadom Police said a group of people, allegedly CPI(M) men, stopped a lorry in which Nikhil of Parakkat was travelling and hacked him to death using swords.

In an apparent retalliation, Rajith Kumar of Illikunnu in Thalassery was hacked to death by a group of suspected RSS activists.

Two RSS activists of Kathirur suffered serious stab injuries and hospitalised at Kozhikode Medical College. Police said K Ranjith (35) and K Vinayan (32) were injured in an attack at People Colony Road at around 1600 hrs.

In Kathirur, the BJP-supported Vivekanandha Library in Munnammile was ransacked and country bombs thrown.

UNI AK/CR SY AS2114