THRISSUR: The Thrissur Rural police on Friday arrested nine BJP activists in connection with murder of JD(U) leader Deepak. The arrested are Rishikesh, 24, of Peringottukara; Nikhil,19, of Muttichoor; Prashanth, 25, of Karamukku; Rashandu, 23, of Kottapadi; Brishnesh, 23, of Peringottukara; Sivadasan, 43, of Thanniam; Rakesh, 30, of Muttichoor; Baiju, 21, of Chazhoor and Sarasan, 43, of Peringottukara.
The first five person were directly involved in murder and the remaining were arrested on charges of hatching a conspiracy, providing logistical support to the assailants and destroying evidence. The police also recovered the vehicle in which the accused travelled and machetes used for the purpose. According to the police, JD(U) Nattika Mandalam secretary Deepak was murdered in retaliation for attacking BJP activists allegedly by the victim, who was an RSS activist earlier.
Five persons came in a vehicle and intercepted Deepak, who was on his way to home after closing the shop where he had been working, and hacked him to death. Two persons, who were along with Deepak, have also been seriously injured in the attack.
There had been tension between the JD(U) and BJP activists in the area for some time. Deepak after joining the JD(U) following a difference of opinion between BJP has been luring other BJP activists into JD(U), this in turn provoked the BJP leaders and ended up in the murder, the police said.
The arrested were produced before the judicial first class magistrate court in Thrissur on Friday night and remanded in judicial custody.