The deceased has been identified as Prenith, police said, adding, the incident occurred at around 10.30 AM near a petrol pump at Pinarayi.
Pinarayi is the home town of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Waynad Superintendent of Police, K Karthick, who also has charge of Kannur, said he was rushing to the spot to take stock of the situation.
Kannur has witnessed a series of attacks on political workers in the recent past.
A CPI(M) activist and toddy shop worker, Mohanan (40) was murdered by a six-member gang at Pathiriyad in the district two days back, with CPI(M) pointing fingers at RSS for the attack.