KASARGOD, DEC 2: The politics of violence that has been rocking Kannur and parts of Kozhikode district for the past several decades, is spreading to this border district, sending ominous signals.

Both the CPM and the BJP have proved to be equally dangerous in the ongoing clashes to establish supremacy. The escalating political violence and the rumours that professional killers from Mumbai's underworld are being brought to settle scores, have made the people panicky. People appear to have little faith in the resolution adopted at the all-party peace meeting convened by District Collector T Thankappan the other day, even though the meeting was attended by CPM and BJP leaders.

``How could one believe them. The recent killings of two youths on board running buses and the murder of two others while taking part in processions, suggest that the worst is yet to come,'' says K Mohammed of Thaikadappuram. Mohammed told The Indian Express that political murders were not common in the district until recently. ``There were a number of communal clashes in the past in which several people were killed and several injured. But the people here always returned to an amicable life soon after every communal clash. But the present running battles between the CPM and the BJP look like a different thing altogether,'' he said.

What immediately seems to have caused panic here is the five political murders, all of them gruesome, and as many as 42 murder attempts that took place in a short span of eight months.

When contacted, a police official said the political situation in Kasargod was becoming menacing. ``The escalating clashes are only part of the attempts being made by both parties to establish their supremacy,'' he said.

Compared to other districts in Kerala, the BJP is more powerful in Kasargod. The party has 27 pockets of its own in the district. Most of these were captured from the CPM which lost many of its pockets during the last two years. Hence the bloody battles, he added.

The BJP leaders also said the fight was part of the CPM attempt to check the growth of the party in Kasargod. The BJP has made much inroads into the district and an intolerant CPM cannot bear this, says Madikkai Kammaran, BJP State secretary.

Kammaran said his party wrested control of many a village including Paivalike, a place sacred to CPM. The CPM was unleashing a reign of terror on the BJP-RSS workers following this, he said.

The CPM leadership however does not agree. According to them, the BJP-RSS activists were fomenting trouble in the district.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.