Alappuzha: Two political murders in a span of 12 hours has led to the authorities imposing prohibitory orders under Section 144 in Kerala’s Alappuzha district for two days.
District collector A Alexander informed on Sunday that leaders of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and BJP were killed as tension between the two parties has been growing in the region.
Senior Kerala Police officers were rushed to the district along with more forces as widespread clashes erupted following the back-to-back murders.
SDPI state secretary Shan KS was hacked to death by unidentified assailants on Saturday morning when he was returning home on his scooter. Police said he was stabbed several times after falling off his two-wheeler on being hit the first time, and was brought dead to the hospital.
Later in the day, BJP’s OBC Morcha leader Ranjith Sreenivasan was waylaid while he was on a stroll and was brutally killed by eight men, allegedly workers of SDPI.
A dozen people have so far been arrested in connection with the murders.
