The terrorist activities of the Jehadi NDF which was confined to North Kerala has shifted to South Kerala with the capital city Thiruvanantha-puram and neighbouring Kollam being its main area of activities. To out-beat the CPM which had allied with PDP, INL, Jamaat-e-Islami and Sunni faction, the Congress and the Muslim League are allied with the NDF, which gives it, the impetus to operate freely.
In a bizarre and grotesque incident Sunil Kumar (36), RSS Thiruvananthapuram district Seva Pramukh and district secretary of the Hindu Aikya Vedi was brutally murdered by an eight member NDF gang at Kilimanoor in the outskirts of Thiruvanantha-puram on May 9. Sunil Kumar, father of three small children was running an upholstery shop and was an agent of the leading Malayalam daily Janma-bhoomi. He was a shining star in all public activities of Kilimanoor and a darling of the masses. He was also the secretary of the Shiva Temple Management. The NDF which had stated activities in Kilimanoor saw him as a threat to their anti-national activities and decided to eliminate him at any cost.
As was his routine in all days, Sunil Kumar arrived at Kilimanoor Junction at 5.00 am from his house in Koppam which was a few kilometres away. After collecting the packets of Janmabhoomi he started to arrange it for home delivery, in front of his shop. Suddenly, eight men armed with swords, axes and machetes arrived in a white Qualis Van and moved towards him. Sunil Kumar started running but the gang chased him and started hacking him with all their weapons. After ensuring his death, the goons threw the weapons into the Shiva Temple pond and left the scene. When local people rushed to Sunil Kumar there were almost 25 cuts on his body and head, legs and his right arm were severed. He was taken to the Medical College hospital and after post-mortem his body was handed over to his relatives and thousands of Sangh Cadres.
The body which was taken in a big motorcade to Kilimanoor was kept at his residence for the public for paying homage. The amount of public support which Sunil Kumar had, can be gauged from the fact that apart from RSS/BJP leaders, CPM M.P. and former speaker Varkala Radhakrishnan and former Congress M.P. T. Basheer came to pay homage to him and participated in the funeral ceremonies. A bandh was also observed in Thiruvananthapuram district on May 10.
The message that the NDF wanted to give to the nationalist forces is. They will not to tolerate the RSS which has been singularly holding the torch of Hindu unity and national pride in Kerala for over seven decades. Hence by publicly murdering a senior leader, the message to others is very clear, if you go with RSS, same will be your fate.
But the NDF should know that RSS is made in fire and will not wilt in the sun. Braving great hardships and threats and despite the martyrdom of almost 300 swayamsevaks, the RSS has been marching ahead, spreading the message of Hindu unity and cultural nationalism. Deaths of efficient Karyakarthas like Sunil Kumar certainly worries, it but scores will come forward to carry the legacy left behind by him.
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