Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 3 (NDTV): In a Facebook post, the son of a Kerala CPM leader described the killing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker E Manoj this week as 'good news'. Jain Raj, who lives in the Gulf, has since deleted his post, allegedly after threats, but its screenshot has gone viral.
E Manoj
Jain, the son of CPM's P Jayarajan, posted in Malayalam, "I have been waiting to hear this good news for a long time. Salutations, dear comrades. Feeling excited." The post, put up at around 2:30 pm on Tuesday, quickly received over 1,000 'likes'.
In more posts, Jain justified his comments, saying his father had been attacked 14 years ago by a group of men including Manoj.
The state BJP has sharply criticized the post.
"A person who wrote a Facebook post on a murder should be booked. It shows that he could have a role in the murder plan. It is abominable to congratulate killers," state BJP president V Muraleedharan has been quoted as saying.
The RSS is the ideological mentor of the BJP, which swept the national election in May.
Manoj was hacked to death on Monday in Kannur district. Bombs were thrown at his van before a group of people attacked him with swords, the police said. A murder case has been registered against six people, all allegedly affiliated to the CPM, the police said. The killing took place as BJP President Amit shah visited Kerala.
The activist's murder has intensified the bitter feud between the RSS and CPM in the state.
The CPM yesterday accused RSS activists of attacking its Pune office and damaging furniture to 'avenge' the killing.