The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested five Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers in connection with the murder of two Youth Congress leaders in north Kerala’s Kasaragod two years ago.
People close to the central agency said they will be produced in a court in Ernakulam on Thursday. One of the arrested is CPI (M) branch secretary K Raju and the agency did not rule out more arrests in the case. It is a big setback to the state government which tried its best to stall a central agency probe in the case. In December 2020, the Supreme Court had rejected its plea questioning the CBI probe.
Youth Congress workers Kripesh and Sharath Lal were waylaid and hacked to death brutally in Periya (north Kerala’s Kasaragod) in February 2019. Initially the CPI (M) disowned the twin murders and condemned them. Later parents of both young men moved the High Court for a central agency probe saying the investigation was not on the right track and was opposed by the government.
Though the crime branch arrested 10 people a week after the murder, all local CPI (M) workers, and parents alleged that it was a well-planned murder and many senior leaders were involved in it. A week before the murder the CPI (M) had organised a protest meeting in the area and senior leader had made a speech threatening both that their days were numbered, their parents said.
{{/usCountry}}Though the crime branch arrested 10 people a week after the murder, all local CPI (M) workers, and parents alleged that it was a well-planned murder and many senior leaders were involved in it. A week before the murder the CPI (M) had organised a protest meeting in the area and senior leader had made a speech threatening both that their days were numbered, their parents said.
{{/usCountry}}The Congress and parents of both the victims lauded the latest arrests. “The state tried its best to contain the CBI and even took enough time to hand over the case diary. We are sure the poor parents will get justice,” said party leader Satheesan Pacheni. “We are sure all involved will be made accountable,” said father of Sharath Lal K Sathyanarayanan. CPI (M) leaders are yet to react.
The CBI is already probing two political murders in north Kerala in which many senior leaders including former Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan were arrested as accused. So the party opposed the CBI probe fearing that senior party functionaries will be booked again.