A CPI (M) worker on Thursday succumbed to the multiple stab injuries he received in an attack by alleged Rashtriya Swayamsevek Sangh (RSS) workers at Chittariparamba, near Koothuparamba, the previous night.
The deceased has been identified as V.V. Preman (45). A toddy shop worker, he was attacked at Chittariparamba under the Kannavam police station limits here at 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday while he was on his way home. Having received multiple stab injuries in his legs, he was immediately rushed to the Thalassery Cooperative Hospital where an emergency medical surgery was conducted on him. He succumbed to his injuries at 6.30 a.m. on Thursday.
According to CPI(M) leaders here, the attack was carried out by RSS workers. The assailants, who came in vehicles, first threw country-made bombs in a bid to strike terror and then stabbed Preman in his legs, they said.
The incident came as a shock to the police and the public as the area where it occurred has not witnessed any recent outbreak of political violence. The incident also added to a sense of concern about renewed violence in the district against the backdrop of clashes between CPI(M) and BJP workers at Chakkarakkal on Wednesday morning.
The police said the incident at Chittariparamba was not connected with the recent incidents of clashes at Chakkarakkal. The CPI(M) called for a day-long hartal at Koothuparamba and nearby areas in protest against the fatal attack on the party worker.
Later a hartal from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. was extended to the entire district. Vehicles were exempted from the hartal. The body of the deceased was taken to the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. The body was then brought to his native place at Chittaripparamba for cremation in the afternoon.
