THE Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) urged all democratic forces to condemn today’s brutal murder of one of its members outside the Left Democratic Front’s election offices in Kollam, Kerala.

CPI-M activist Manilal was attacked as he left the building in the city’s East Kallada area after the last full day of campaigning in local elections which are due to take place tomorrow. He was rushed to hospital but died later from his injuries.

The CPI-M blamed members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a violent Hindu-nationalist paramilitary organisation linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“The murder undeniably is a product of organised attempts by the RSS to disrupt law and order in the region, with just 24 hours remaining before the local body elections. RSS is deliberately trying to create an atmosphere of terror in a region with no history of violence.

“We condemn the brutal murder of Comrade Manilal. We also urge all democratic forces to protest against this brutal murder,” a party statement said.

Souvik Lahri from West Bengal was one of those that gave a red salute to the slain communist.

“Our heart goes out to the surviving members of [the] martyr’s family. Every drop of your blood was given [to] the peasants and workers to fight for a society free of oppression,” he said.

Mass protests are set to continue tomorrow in solidarity with farm workers as they bid to overturn three agricultural Bills passed in September that allow private stockpiling of food while deregulating crop prices.

Farmers say this will empower corporate agribusiness to dictate prices and profit from food insecurity.

The agricultural workers also oppose a Bill that privatises electricity distribution.

Many states say it will end their democratic role in regulating power supply and render unviable many state-level free or subsidised electricity schemes.