Kasargode double murder: Was CPI (M) aware of accused Peethambaran’s motive?

While Peethambaran’s wife says that he couldn’t have plotted the crime without the party’s knowledge, CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri has denied it.
Kasargode double murder: Was CPI (M) aware of accused Peethambaran’s motive?
Kasargode double murder: Was CPI (M) aware of accused Peethambaran’s motive?
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In a major development in the Kasargode double murder case that could prove damaging to the ruling CPI (M) in Kerala, the wife of local CPI (M) leader Peethambaran who was arrested in the case, said that he couldn’t have planned it without the knowledge of the party.

This is in sharp contrast to CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan‘s statement on the crime. Kodiyeri on Tuesday told media that the murder had been executed without the knowledge of the party.

Peethambaran’s wife Manju and their daughter Devika told media from their house in Periya in the district that Peethambaran couldn’t have done it without the knowledge of the party at any cost. “He won’t do it without party’s knowledge at any cost. But after the arrest, no one from the party came here. They had come to meet him when he got injured,” Manju said.

“He has done it for the party, but now the party is disowning him. If it has tainted the party’s image, it would affect them and the elections are coming. The blame is on the entire party, but now they are putting the blame on one person. For my part, I would say all the blame is on the party,” Devika said.

“Now the party thinks that we have left our place of residence, but where can we go. They should also think about that no? “ Manju asks.

In a rare move, the CPI (M) had expelled Peethambaran from the party following a decision taken by the party state committee. He was a member of the Periya local committee of the party. He was arrested on Tuesday evening.

Kodiyeri had earlier said, ”Those who have acted against the direction of the party won’t be allowed to continue in the party, they won't have any place in the CPI (M) and the party won't support them. The official stand of the party is that such things shouldn’t happen. Whoever will act against the direction of the party won't be spared. Such people won't have any place in the party, the party won’t protect them.”

"The family of Peethambaran might think on these lines, but this is not the thinking of the party. They might have said this out of the agony of him being an accused in the case," Kodiyeri reportedly said on Wednesday.

Youth Congress workers, Kripesh (22) and Sharath Lal (24) were killed  by three men who came in motorcycles on Sunday.

Last month, it is learnt, that a scuffle took place between the local CPI (M) and the Kerala Students' Union (students’ wing of the Congress) activists of Munnad People's College, a self-financing institution, in Kalyott. This sparked violence between the rival groups and led to clashes between DYFI workers {youth wing of the CPI (M)} and Youth Congress workers.

Kalyott is a stronghold of the Congress. During the scuffle, Peethambaran got injured. Sharath was named as the prime accused in the case.

Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that Peethamabaran in his statement to the investigating team, has said that he carried out the crime out of humiliation of being attacked by the Youth Congress workers and he was also upset at the party's intervention in the issue not being satisfactory. The investigating team has reportedly found weapons that were used to kill Kripesh and Sharath. They were seized during the search for materials at the spot in Kalyott where the crime took place.

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