Kerala: Main accused in RSS activist's murder surrenders in court

The main accused in the murder of an RSS activist at Kathirur on September 1 surrendered before a local court on Wednesday. Vikraman surrendered before the Judicial First Class Magistrate court, police said.

Manoj, the RSS activist was killed when an unidentified gang attacked him in politically-volatile Kathirur near Thalassery in Kannur district on September 1. The gang waylaid Manoj on a road, threw a country-bomb at him and then hacked him to death before fleeing the area.

Another party sympathiser was also seriously injured in the attack and has been hospitalised.

RSS and BJP leaders had alleged that CPI(M) was behind the killing and had also called a dawn-to-dusk state wide hartal to protest against the dastardly murder. The area, which was witness to violence involving RSS and CPI(M) workers in the past, had remained largely calm in the last few years.

On Sept 6 Congress-led UDF government said investigation into the murder would be handed over to CBI.

The crime Branch special team investigating the murder had also questioned several people, including CPI(M) Kathirur local committee leader in this connection.