Cadres of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) clashed in Payyanur, a town 50 km north of Kannur city in Kerala, on July 11. No casualties were reported but people from both sides suffered injuries. As many as 20 houses and an office of the RSS were also damaged.
Kannur has for long been a hotbed of political violence between the CPI(M) and the Sangh Parivar.
According to Kerala police, Kannur district saw 69 “political murders” from 2000 to 2016 – 31 of the slain people belonged to the Sangh Parivar and 30 to the CPI(M). Of the other eight victims, five belonged to the Indian Union Muslim League and three to the National Development Front, which has since merged with the Popular Front of India.
The number of violent incidents has come down drastically since Pinarayi Vijayan, who hails from Kannur district, became chief minister last May and took steps to find lasting peace. He has even won appreciation from Sangh Parivar leaders for his efforts.
The latest incidents, however, have put a question mark on the peace initiatives.
Payyanur had been relatively calm after the twin murders of CPI(M) leader CV Dhanaraj and BJP worker CK Ramachandran last year on July 11 and July 12,…
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