Daijiworld Media Network

Kochi, Apr 15: The Kathua rape and murder has sparked an outrage in the country. However in Kerala, it has resulted in a poster war between the CPM and BJP workers.

Overnight notices popped up on at least 20 people’s gates asking BJP cadres to not enter their premises in Kalamachal in Thiruvananthapuram district. Soon this protest spread to Chengannur in Alappuzha district where the BJP is facing a crucial bypoll.

"There are young girls in this house. BJP cadre please stay outside the gate," read one banner.

Many such messages in English and Malayalam had hashtags #BalatkariJanataParty and #RapeSevaSangh

Sources say that CPM’s Students Federation of India was apparently the brain behind the poster campaign.

However, as soon as the pictures went viral, BJP used the same strategy to retaliate. BJP's handwritten posters varied from CPM state secretary’s statement on army men to the incident where a pregnant woman lost her baby after allegedly being kicked by CPM workers.

According to sources, the CPM’s top brass asked its party workers to remove such notices after the issue became viral.

BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan has condemned the Kathua incident. "The J&K government’s prompt action helped bring the culprits before the law. The society should isolate such persons," he said.

He also lashed at chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for sharing the victim’s picture on his Facebook page and alleged that he is trying to politicize the incident.