S Chandrasekhar
NDF goons murdered the RSS Nagar Sharirik Pramukh and ABVP Chengannur president Vishal Kumar (20) in Chengannur, Alappuzha district.
Vishal Kumar, a BSc (Electronics) student, along with other ABVP activists had assembled in front of Chengannur Christian College to welcome newcomers on July 16. As is the practice, every year, ABVP conducts Saraswati Puja at the college entrance, with pictures of Goddess Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda. A huge gang of NDF-Campus Front goons who, barged in nine bikes and armed with swords, karate weapons, acid bulbs etc. shouting “We won’t tolerate saffron-flag holding dogs,” attacked the ABVP students. Vishal was stabbed in the stomach and several other ABVP activists were attacked. ABVP activists Sreejith and Vishnu Prasad are in serious condition in hospital. Vishal who was rushed to Kottayam Medical College Hospital expired on July 17.
In protest against the murder, RSS-BJP-ABVP called a hartal in Alappuzha district on July 18. An Education Bandh was also called by ABVP in Kerala on July 19.
Vishal Kumar’s body was taken to his house in Kotta, near Aranmula, after post-mortem in a huge motorcade, accompanied by thousands of Sangh Parivar activists.
He was cremated on July 20, after arrival of his parents, Venugopal and Sathi from England.
Top leaders of Sangh Parivar and Congress MLAs K Sivadasan Nair, PC Vishnunath and Home Minister T Radhakrishnan paid floral tributes to Vishal. Thousands of RSS swayamsevaks offered “Anthya Pranam’ to him.
ABVP has demanded setting up of a Special Investigation Team to probe the murder. They said this was a terrorist act. They said NDF-Campus Front is using campuses as safe-houses for terrorist activities. Many campuses are used as training grounds for NDF terror-activities. The CPM’s SFI is also being targeted by NDF-Campus Front. They said, Nazim, a 3rd year degree student of Christian College is the kingpin behind the murder.
Police have arrested four NDF activists and taken three bikes into custody. Cases have been booked against twelve including Nazim and Ashik.
