'No mercy for you'; Few hours after cryptic FB post, BJP leader shot dead by friend in Kannur

KANNUR: A goods auto driver was shot dead by his friend in Kaithapram on Thursday night during a brawl. The victim was identified as KK Radhakrishnan (51), a native of Kaithapram and also a local BJP leader in Mathamangalam.

Pariyaram police arrested Santhosh, a native of Perumbadavu, in the incident. Santhosh was heavily under the influence of alcohol at the time of the arrest. Police ruled out the possibility of a political motive behind the murder. It is doubted that family disputes were the reason.

The incident took place at around 7:30 pm on Thursday. Construction worker Santosh called Radhakrishnan to a construction site near Kaithapram library and shot him in the chest. Hearing the commotion, locals reached the spot and rushed Radhakrishnan to a nearby hospital but his life could not be saved.

Santhosh owns a gun license, which he took to shoot wild boars in the area.

Just one hour before the murder, Santhosh posted a sly hint about murder on his social media.

The note, begins with "I told you, didn't I?" and ends with “ No mercy for You”. When the police arrived at the location, Santhosh was sitting idle near the building site.

Sujith, a member of Panapuzha Panchayat, said that the person in custody is a native of the nearby Perumbadavu Panchayat. Sujith said that Santhosh was a member of a rescue team that shoots wild boars.