The recent killing of the Congress youth worker on Monday night by a group of unidentified men at Mattanur in Kannur has created much outrage among Congress leadership regarding the law and order situation in the district.
The incident prompted Congress party president Rahul Gandhi to tweet saying, "May his soul rest in peace."
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala condemned the incident calling it “red terror”.
"Kannur is witnessing 'red terror,'. The CPM is wreaking terror in Kannur by not allowing any other political party to function”, said Chennithala.
Meanwhile Oommen Chandy reacted to the incident and demanded the CM’s resignation for failing to maintain law and order in Kannur.
"The killing is part of the CPM's attempt to make Kerala a war zone by turning the CPM-BJP rivalry towards the Congress also. Despite the police knowing about the turmoil in Kannur and Vatakara, they didn't raise a finger. All those who believe in democracy should stand against CPM's killer politics," said Mr Chandy.
Senior Congress leaders like A K Antony also reacted to the incident saying, "The CPM is trying to evolve Kerala into a war zone by triggering violent politics. This is a murder that happened with the knowledge and permission of the CPM district leadership."
The state Congress leaders have also decided to postpone its political affairs committee meeting which was supposed to be held on Wednesday. Instead the leaders have decided to visit Shuhaib’s family on Wenesday. Leaders, including Chennithala, will be attending a hunger strike in Kannur town on Wednesday, reports TOI.
Meanwhile reports have also come saying that Shuhaib’s murder was not a point of discussion for CPI (M) leaders at the CPM state committee meeting held on Tuesday. Though CPI (M) Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan said that the guilty should be brought before the trial, with the fingers pointed at CPI (M) the party on the whole is criticized for being on the defensive mode.
huhaib was hacked to death on Monday around 11.30 pm when Shuhaib, Naushad and Riyad were out in the Mattanur area. A group of four men first threw a bomb at the trio, and later slashed Shuhaib with a sword. Both Riyad and Naushad were injured in the incident.
Though Shuhaib was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries at the Kozhikode Medical college hospital.
Shuhaib, who was 29 years old, was the Mattanur block secretary. Congress party had called for a dawn-to-dusk shut down in Kannur on Tuesday.