Vijayan said that his government was open to the idea of holding an all-party meeting to restore peace in the district. "But first, let us convene a district-level meeting in Kannur for peace, and later, if necessary, a state-level meeting can be held," the chief minister added. Vijayan, however, lauded the government for taking "all initiatives" and showered praise on the police for being impartial in their handling of the murders.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India asked the CPI(M) to show restraint to maintain law and order in the Left Democratic Front-ruled state. CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy, however, blamed the RSS for initiating the tension. "That does not mean that I defend the revenge murders [by CPI(M)]. Both should exercise restraint," he added.
The latest in the string of murders took place on October 12, when BJP worker Remith was killed by unknown assailants. The party had called for a 12-hour statewide strike in Kerala the following day. Remith's murder was suspected to have been in retaliation to the killing of a Left party worker in Kannur on October 10.
There have been several reports of clashes between the two political parties in the state since the CPI(M)-led LDF government came to power, following the Assembly elections in Kerala on May 16.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!