IN yet another brutal incident in Kerala, RSS-BJP goons killed an active CITU worker in Pathanamthitta district on the night of February 16th. Thirty-four-year-old Jithin Shaji was stabbed to death while he was trying to mediate and sort out issues following a scuffle between two groups in Perunad Madathumoozhiyil. The next day, police arrested eight active RSS workers in connection with the murder.

In a planned attack by an eight-member group of RSS workers, a sharp weapon was used to fatally stab Jithin. Earlier that night, a young man named Ananthu, who had gone to buy goods from a bakery near Kochupalam Junction in Madathumoozhi, was assaulted by a group of RSS criminals. DYFI activists, led by TN Vishnu, reached the scene and attempted to mediate the situation, but the RSS gang attacked them as well.

Upon learning of the incident, Jithin came to resolve the issue. While he was speaking with the youth, the main accused – RSS worker and BMS leader PS Vishnu from Koonankara Madathumoozhi – took a long, sharp machete from a car and stabbed Jithin. The weapon was thrust deep into his stomach, tearing it open. PS Vishnu and his gang had been targeting Jithin, who worked in timber units. Some of the other accused were also involved in the attack.

Jithin’s body was cremated on February 19. CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan visited Perunad to pay tribute to Jithin and offered condolences to his grieving parents, Shaji and Geetha.