Kasaragod: The total number of people arrested in the murder of Youth Congress workers in Kerala has gone up to seven, even as the Crime Branch took over the investigation yesterday.
The men arrested are K M Suresh, K Anil Kumar, M Ashwin, Sreerag, G Sreejan and local CPI(M) workers A Peethambaran and Saji George, which was a setback to the ruling party in the State. Peethambaran was later expelled from the party.
According to a press release, DGP Loknath Behera had directed the case to be handed over to the Crime Crime branch after the family members of the deceased alleged that the murders were carried out with the support of the CPI(M) and demanded CBI probe into the case.
The provocative speech by a local CPI(M) leader V P P Mustafa, which was aired on television channels, added fuel to the fire. Mustafa is heard saying everyone knew the CPI-M’s style of functioning and how the party reacted when it ran out of patience. The Congress alleged that the speech indicated that the killings were executed with the support of the CPI(M) leadership.
On Sunday night, the deceased, Kripesh and Sharat Lal were returning home after taking part in a function when they were blocked by a gang who hacked them to death.
With many Congress leaders continuously attacking the CPI(M), the party’s State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan stated the killings cannot be justified and if any local CPI(M) activists had a role in it, action would be taken against them. He further said that the party would not protect them.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the incident as extremely unfortunate, and said strong action would be taken against the accused. Issuing a statement in this regard, the CMO said the State DGP has been instructed to bring all the accused to book as early as possible.