With just months to go before assembly polls in Karnataka, two killings within 20 days have sparked communal unrest in the state.

The first is the murder of 35-year-old Ashraf Kalayi, a leader of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) on June 21. He was a popular leader and was known for doing good to all, irrespective of their community or religion. His murder is suspected to be due to jealousy at his popularity.

The second killing, that of RSS worked Sharath Madiwala, happened just 12 km away from the first and is suspected by police to be retaliation for the killing of the SDPI leader. Given the political background of the two victims, some say that it is possible that communal feelings of the people will be manipulated for upcoming elections.