THRISSUR: CPM state secretary A Vijayaraghavan has condemned the killing of party activist Manilal. A conspiracy of the Sangh Parivar is going on to destroy the atmosphere of peace. The accused was given BJP membership by the state chief himself. This was an attack eyeing the local body polls, said Vijayaraghavan. He also alleged that murder due to personal animosity was a constant justification of the BJP.

Manilal, a CPM activist from Monroe Island, Kollam, was stabbed at around 7 pm last night. Ashok, a local stabbed him at the end of a verbal dispute. Though he was rushed to the Co-operative Hospital in Kollam, his life could not be saved.

The BJP leadership's response was that it had nothing to do with the murder and that the CPM was trying to create a martyrdom before the panchayat elections. Ashok and his friend Sathyan, who stabbed Manilal are in police custody.