As political violence has gripped the state of Kerala in the last couple of days, the state's Governor has now intervened in the matter.
With capital Thiruvananthapuram erupting in a sudden political unrest following multiple attacks on BJP offices, houses of CPI (M) leaders, and the killing of an RSS man on Saturday, the state's Governor summoned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday, along with the DGP Loknath Behera.
CM Pinarayi, along with Director General of Police (DGP) met Governor P Sathasivam at Raj Bhavan on Sunday to apprise the latter of the law and order situation in the state.
DGP Loknath Behera meets Governor P Sathasivam
Governor Sathasivam summoned the duo on a day when the BJP is observing a dawn to dusk hartal in the state, after an RSS worker Rajesh was hacked to death late on Saturday night.
The Governor put out a series of tweets following the meeting, saying that the CM will hold talks with BJP State President Kummanam Rajasekharan and the RSS chief, and also make a public appeal to maintain peace in the state.
Summoned Chief minister @CMOKerala and State Police Chief to know about action taken by State govt on law and order issues in Trivandrum
— Kerala Governor (@KeralaGovernor) July 30, 2017
Chief minister @CMOKerala informed that culprits in murder of RSS worker in Trivandrum arrested &that lawbreakers will be sternly dealt with
— Kerala Governor (@KeralaGovernor) July 30, 2017
Law breakers will be sternly dealt with, irrespective of status or political affiliation, CM @CMOKerala assures me at Kerala RajBhavan today
— Kerala Governor (@KeralaGovernor) July 30, 2017
Spoke to @HMOIndia Shri.Rajnath Singh and briefed him about law and order and on measures taken by State govt to maintain peace
— Kerala Governor (@KeralaGovernor) July 30, 2017
Called sh.@KummanRajasekharan on phone about the arrests made. Called Sh.Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to ask about stone pelting at his son's house
— Kerala Governor (@KeralaGovernor) July 30, 2017
CM Pinarayi reportedly assured the Governor that law breakers would be sternly dealt with, and that the accused in the murder of the RSS worker were already arrested by the police.
Post the meeting, the Governor also spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to brief him about the law and order and measures taken by the state government to maintain peace. The Governor also made calls to BJP State President Kummanam Rajasekharan and CPI (M) State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. While the Governor conveyed to Kummanam that arrests have been made in the killing of RSS worker case, his phone conversation with Kodiyeri Balakrishnan centered around the recent attack on the latter's son Bineesh Kodiyeri's house.
Following the multiple attacks on BJP and CPI (M) factions in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, the police had imposed a ban on all political processions for three days. Following Rajesh's killing, the police have now extended the ban further for three more days.
The police have taken eight men into custody, six of whom were allegedly directly linked to the hacking, and the rest of them were involved in conspiracy.
Read: Eight taken into custody in Kerala RSS worker's murder, state-wide hartal by BJP almost complete