SID probe begins into BJP leader's murder

A day after its constitution by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the Special Investigation Division (SID) today began probe into the murder of BJP state unit General Secretary V Ramesh here.
A special team headed by CB-CID IGP Manjunatha and comprising SP Arul among others arrived here this morning and commenced the investigation, police said.
The team held a meeting with City Police Commissioner K C Mahali and Range DIG Sanjay Kumar.
It also visited the house of Ramesh, who was hacked to death by a gang on July 19.
Expressing shock over the killing, Jayalalithaa had yesterday constituted the SID, under the overall supervision of Director General of Police (CB-CID), in a swift response to the demands of BJP and other political outfits for a thorough probe into the incident.

Meanwhile, state BJP President Pon Radhakrishnan today told reporters here that party veteran L K Advani would attend a condolence meeting to be held in the city on August 1 in memory of Ramesh.

Leaders cutting across party lines continued to pay their tributes to the slain leader. DMK MP T M Selvaganapathy, former state Youth Congress President Yuvaraj among those who paid their last respects.
In a fallout of the murder, eight BJP functionaries and offices of Sangh parivar units in Madurai were given special police protection.
Besides the offices of BJP, VHP and Hindu Munnani, security has been provided at the Ramakrishna Mutt and Sankara Mutt, police said.