Thiruvananthapuram: Two activists of the youth wing of the CPI(M) were hacked to death allegedly by Congress workers in Kerala on Sunday night, police said here on Monday.
DYFI workers Mithilaj, 30 and Haq Muhammed, 24 were attacked using sharp edged weapons at Thembamood in Venjaramoodu in Thiruvananthapuram district at around 11.30 pm.
While Mithilaj died on the spot, Muhammed lost his life while being taken to hospital.
Their bodies have been shifted to the Medical College mortuary.
The DYFI workers were attacked while they were going to Mithilaj's home on a motorbike, police said.
Launching an investigation, police took three persons into custody in connection with the incident.
Police said it is suspected that the rivalry between the CPI(M) and the Congress was the reason for the attack.
The area was tense following the incident, they added.
The CPI(M) and the DYFI alleged that Congress workers were behind the attack on their activists on the eve of Thiruvonam day.
Terming it a "heinous attack", CPI(M) state secretariat member K N Balagopal alleged the Congress leadership was responsible for the killing of DYFI activists.
"Two DYFI workers were brutally killed on the eve of Thiruvonam day. It is evident that the Congress, instead of encouraging democratic discourse, is encouraging violence against CPI(M)-DYFI workers in the state. We strongly condemn this heinous attack on DYFI activists," Balagopal said.