KANNUR: The arrest of four has been registered in connection with the murder of CPM activist Haridasan. Those taken into custody yesterday were arrested on charges of conspiracy. Their names have not been revealed. Efforts are on to trace the bike used by the accused.

The accused are now lodged at the New Mahe police station. Seven including BJP Thalassery municipal councillor Lijesh are in custody. Of these, the arrest of four have been registered. There had been clashes in the area earlier in connection with a festival. Following this, a video of Lijesh saying, "if attacked our activists then we know how to handle them" was circulated on social media.

A fight broke out between the BJP and CPM activists during the festival near Koloth Temple on February 5. Haridas’ brother Surendran was injured in the incident. A case was registered against five BJP activists. They believed that Haridas was behind it and they threatened him. He didn’t go for work because of this.

Haridas, a fisherman, started going for work from Sunday onwards. Though he told the police about the threat, they had asked him to be careful. He was murdered yesterday early morning when he was returning after work.