The two barbaric murders that took place within Palakkad on Friday and Saturday once again bring out the frightening face of political animosity. The police and mainstream politicians are trying to give political colour to this atrocity. They also show an enthusiasm to classify those killed as victims of political animosity. Whatever the politics of the deceased, one would wonder what political hatred was filled in the minds of those who worked behind the scenes to brutally cut both of them apart. Subair, a Popular Front activist, was riding his bike with his father at around 1.30 pm on Friday when he was attacked and hacked to death by a group of assailants. His father fell from his bike and was seriously injured. It must be assumed that the killers had no intention of taking the old man's life. Their aim was to assassinate Subair. Not only the people of Palakkad but also the entire state were shocked to hear this news. They had hardly recovered from this shock when Sreenivasan, an RSS activist, was killed similarly at his own spare parts shop on Saturday afternoon. The road was full of people outside when the killers arrived in three two-wheelers and returned immediately after committing the murder. The killer gangs have no hesitation in taking such political revenge even in broad daylight. Palakkad was under tight police surveillance and security following the murder of the Popular Front activist. The murder of Sreenivasan took place in the midst of this. This 44-year-old was not associated with the underworld. One can see the primitive style of 'an eye for an eye' here. The two murders in Alappuzha last December bear a striking resemblance. The pillars of two were torn down in the blindness of political hatred.

According to police records, 53 political assassinations have taken place in different parts of the state in the last few years. Fourteen people lost their lives in the past 16 months. No one except the families of the deceased knows the plight and helplessness of those who lost their dear ones in political and revenge murders. The faces of those forces who provide the killer gangs with vehicles and weapons to seek revenge are rarely uncovered. There will be precise planning behind every such murder. Such a catastrophe can be curtailed to some extent only if the real masterminds behind this social evil are =caught and severely punished.

RSS activist Sreenivasan was brutally murdered while the police were expanding their deployment and conducting the search in various parts of Palakkad to find Subair's killers. Naturally, there was strong criticism against the police force. The lapse on the part of the police cannot be ignored even when the ruling party alleged that the covert forces were trying to incite communal hatred and disturb the atmosphere of peace in the state through such killings.

All the police have to do now is to find the real culprits involved in the incident as soon as possible. At the same time, they should find the people who are making the moves behind the curtains. The authorities must let the police do their duty without any kinds of external pressure. An independent and fair investigation should be completed as soon as possible and a charge sheet should be filed in court. The trial should be completed on time. Usually, the trial of such cases takes years to complete. Delays in prosecuting the case are always helpful to the accused and the forces behind them. Four people have already been taken into custody in connection with Subair's murder. More accused are yet to be arrested. A search is on to find the culprits in connection with Sreenivasan's murder. The accused received ample time to flee despite the incident taking place in broad daylight. The accused managed to escape at a time when there are surveillance cameras and other facilities for the police all over the state.

If the Chief Minister's declaration that those who have committed heinous acts against human conscience will not be spared should be meaningful, all the culprits involved in the incident should be punished. It requires a case investigation without any loopholes and efficient case management. The government should also consider strengthening the police intelligence system to prevent such atrocities. The authorities must take care not to create an atmosphere in which violent politics can thrive. There is no point in shedding crocodile tears after someone gets killed. Authorities must create the conviction that those who get involved in such incidents are ruthlessly punished. The Opposition only tends to blame the government for such incidents, which are detrimental to peace in the society. In addition to pointing out the lapses on the part of the government, they should also be able to unequivocally support the government's efforts to suppress the destructive forces. After all, everyone wants peace to prevail in the state.