Mangalore:  Ashraf  Kalayi, President of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) Ammunje zonal unit, was attacked and brutally murdered by a gang with swords in broad daylight at Benjanapadavu on 21st June, Wednesday.

Ashraf was a 35-year-old rickshaw driver and an office-bearer of the Social Democratic Party of India. He was a resident of Malluru Kalai in Bantwal taluk.

According to sources, some people boarded his auto rickshaw as commuters in Bantwal Rural police station limits on Wednesday morning. They hired the rickshaw to Benjanpudu near an engineering college.

“However, once they reached, they attacked him with swords and killed him in a violent way”, said A M Athaulla, General secretary of SDPI Dakshina Kannada district unit.

It is said that the assailants, who came on bikes were masked and escaped after the murder. As people started to gather in Kaikamba, the police led by IGP Harishekaran chased them away.

The fresh murder has triggered tense atmosphere across the Bantwal taluk. People in Kalladka and Melkar villages of taluk are observing a bandh in protest against the violence.

The Bantwal Rural police have registered a case. Superintendent of Police, Bhushan Gulabrao Borase and other officers had rushed to the spot.