Four SDPI workers arrested over killing of ABVP member

Kannur: Police has arrested four Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activists in connection with the murder of Shyam Prasad, a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Kannur district on Friday.

The arrested SDPI activists have been identified as Muhammed (20), Minikkol Salim (26), Neerveli Sameer (25), and Hashim. Muhammed is also an accused in the murder case of CPI-M leader Naroth Dileepan.

According to police sources, the four were arrested from Thalapuzha in Wayanad, after two hours following the murder.

Shyam Prasad, an ITI student, was going to his house at Koothuparamba on his motorcycle when the gang came in a car and attacked him at Kommeri around 5.30 pm Friday.

The victim tried to flee but the gang chased and hacked him with machetes, seriously injuring him.

Though locals rushed him to the government hospital at Koothuparamba, he died on the way, the police said.

ABVP had alleged that Popular Front of India was behind the killing and demanded that the outfit be banned.

ABVP State Secretary Shyam Raj said the 'terror' face of PFI has come out in open once again with the killing of Shyam Prasad.

In a statement, said ABVP would ask the Centre to ban the PFI by pointing to its activities, including alleged recruitment to the IS.

Meanwhile, the BJP observed a hartal in the district from 6 am to s6 pm Saturday in protest of the murder.