On February 25, eight Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activists were arrested in connection with the murder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist Nandhu Krishna at Vayalar near Cherthala of Alappuzha District in Kerala, reports The Hindu. The eight activists arrested Suneer, Yasir, Abdul Khader, Nishad, Anas, Shabudin, Riyaz, and Anzil hacked RSS activist Nandhu Krishna on February 24 following clashes between SDPI and RSS at Nagankulankara Junction. According to reports in India Today, tensions had been brewing in the area following a march organised by the SDPI recently in protest against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's Kerala visit to inaugurate BJPs Vijay Yatra from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram. Another RSS activist K.S. Nandhu who suffered serious injuries in the clashes has been recuperating at a private hospital in Ernakulam. On February 25, BJP observed a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the district in protest against the murder. The hartal turned violent at Cherthala, where a few shops and vehicles belonging to SDPI activists and sympathisers were torched and vandalised. District Collector A. Alexander imposed Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC) at Cherthala and Ambalappuzha taluks until Saturday.