A pall of gloom descended on Karumbankonam, near Sreekaryam, on Sunday where Rajesh, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker, was brutally killed, around 300 metres away from his home at Vinayaka Nagar.
The blood stains that remained on the road triggered a chilling reminder of the gruesome incident that unfolded the previous night. The residents of the region are in a state of shock after having heard news of the death.
Rajesh was on his way to his house on his motorcycle after having attended a meeting at the nearby RSS ‘shakha’ when he was attacked. He was waylaid by the assailants who allegedly had come in two vehicles, when Rajesh had stopped near a Milma outlet to buy milk.
Hari, who works in the outlet, said that he saw a machete-wielding person running away with his face covered as he came running on hearing a commotion outside the shop. He lost no time in alerting the police as well as others who were in the area, he says.
Some who claim to have witnessed the incident said that another RSS worker, who had accompanied Rajesh after the meeting, fled after the assailants attempted to assault him.
Santhosh, who resides nearby, said that Rajesh was known to be one who spared no efforts in helping people who were in need. “He had no record of being involved in any anti-social activities. Those responsible should have spared a thought for his family,” he said.
Rajesh, who used to work as a mason, is survived by his father Sudharshan, mother Lalitha Kumari, wife Reena and two children Adhithyan, a Class 1 student of Kendriya Vidyalaya Pattom, and Abhishek, a LKG student of Government Lower Primary School in Kariyam.
Several hundred people, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and RSS activists, thronged the premises of the private hospital at Anayara, while inquest proceedings were under way, and later at the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital during the post-mortem.
Later, the body was taken in procession to his house, where it was kept for the public to pay homage. The mortal remains were taken to the Shanthi Kavadam in Thycaud by around 5.15 p.m., where the cremation was held. BJP district president Kummanam Rajasekharan, national executive member V. Muraleedharan and district president S. Suresh were among those who were present.
