BJP demands SIT probe into its TN leader's murder

New Delhi, July 21: Condemning the murder of its Tamil Nadu unit general secretary V Ramesh, BJP on Saturday, July 20 said several of its activists have been attacked and killed brutally in the recent past and demanded that a Special Investigation Team be formed to probe these cases.

"V Ramesh was brutally attacked and killed close to his home and office in Salem, Tamil Nadu. BJP condemns this attack. His murder is just one in a series, within a year, of targeted killings in Tamil Nadu," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Arvind Reddy, state secretary, BJP Medical Cell in Tamil Nadu was killed earlier as were Murugan, an activist and former councillor and Pugazhendi, BJP district president Nagapattinam.

"BJP leaders are being attacked in a planned manner.... It is apparent that all these attacks are undertaken with detailed planning and after surveillance of the movements of these activists. Each of these attacks has been gruesome and brutal," Sitharaman said.

BJP maintained these killings are aimed at instilling fear in the minds of the people. The main opposition pointed out that during senior BJP leader L K Advani's yatra in 2011, a plan was hatched to kill him with a pipe bomb in Tamil Nadu. "This dangerous drift towards political attacks and killings should be stopped instantly.

The Tamil Nadu government should set up a high-level Special Investigation Team to thoroughly investigate each one these attacks," Sitharaman said. BJP demanded protection for its party members who are under threat.

PTI