Alappuzha: A Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker was hacked to death at Nagamkulangara near Vayalar in Kerala's Alappuzha district on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Nandu Krishna. He was the RSS branch leader of Vayalar.
Eight workers of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) have been taken into custody in connection with the killing, the police said on Thursday.
The incident took place at the Nagamkulangara junction when RSS and SDPI workers clashed after hours of dispute over some comments made when a motorcade of the SDPI passed through the junction.
According to reports, tension had been brewing in the area following a march organised by the SDPI recently in protest against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's Kerala visit to inaugurate BJP's Vijay Yatra from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram.
The area had witnessed back to back protest marches by two groups following the SDPI programme.
Six others were also injured in the clash. They have been admitted to various hospitals in Alappuzha and Ernakulam. One of the injured workers of the RSS is said to be in serious condition, the police said.
SDPI is the political offshoot of Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).
Police forces have been rushed to the region to avert any further aggression. The incident took place just weeks ahead of the Kerala Assembly Polls.
BJP is observing a dawn-to-dusk (6 am to 6 pm) hartal in the district to protest the violence.
However, vehicles will not be stopped in view of the PSC tests taking place in the district, BJP Alappuzha president MV Gopakumar informed.
BJP state president K Surendran condemned the killing of the RSS worker. He alleged that the PFI was behind the killing of Nandu.
Tensions soared in Cherthala on Thursday after a vegetable garden and a grilled chicken cafe were set on fire.
Many shops were forced shut by BJP workers.
The body of slain Nandu Krishna will be taken to Vayalar from Cherthala in the afternoon after the postmortem.
