The CBI has arrested five CPM activists, including the CPM branch secretary, in connection with the murder of Youth Congress activists Kripesh and Sarath Lal in Kasargod, Periya. CPM branch secretary Rajesh (Raju-38), CPM activists Surendran (Vishnu Sura-47), Shasta Madhu (40), Hariprasad (32) and Reji Varghese (44) were arrested near Kalyot where the two were killed. They will be produced in the Ernakulam CJM court today.
This is the first arrest since the CBI took over the investigation. Earlier, the crime branch had arrested 14 people in connection with the case. Shasta Madhu and Surendran, who are currently under arrest, were not even called for questioning by the crime branch. Reji Varghese and Hariprasad are on the witness list of the crime branch. Rajesh, who was in charge of the Branch Committee office of the CPM, has been appointed as the branch secretary this time.
The CBI has found that all the five were directly involved in the conspiracy. The arrest was made after it became clear during interrogation that the accused had been provided with weapons and a vehicle and had been given directions.
Sarathlal and Kripesh were hacked to death on the night of February 17, 2019. The first accused is A. Peethambaran, a member of the CPM Periya local committee. Of the 14 arrested by the crime branch, Kanhangad block panchayat president K Manikandan, CPM Periya local secretary Balakrishnan and Mani were released on bail.
The High Court also asked: Why not question them?
The parents of Kripesh and Sarathlal had alleged that Shasta Madhu and Surendran were involved in the murder in a petition filed in the high court seeking a CBI probe. The High Court had also asked the Crime Branch why the two were not questioned.
It was a matter of controversy that the government had appointed prominent advocates in the High Court and the Supreme Court at a cost of over Rs 1 crore to block the CBI probe, claiming that the crime branch investigation was satisfactory. The CBI team arrived at the spot in December last year after the Supreme Court rejected the government’s contention. The High Court had directed that the probe be completed within four months. The current arrest comes as this period is coming to an end.
KV Kunhiraman was questioned again
The CBI yesterday questioned CPM district secretariat member and former MLA KV Kunhiraman and a member of the Uduma area committee. Kunhiraman and Minister MV Govindan’s private secretary VPP Mustafa were questioned a few months ago. The CBI does not rule out the possibility of arrests of prominent people, including the CPM district leader. CBI DySP TP Ananthakrishnan said the chargesheet would be filed soon.
English Summary: Periya twin murder: CBI arrested CPM leaders
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