The police team investigating the double murder in Kasargode has arrested one more person in connection with the crime. The man has been identified as Saji George.
According to Pradeep Kumar, DySP Crime Branch Kasargode, Saji was involved in the execution of the crime.
Saji is a native of Kalliyode in Kasargode. It is reported that he is the owner of the Mahindra Xylo vehicle, which was used by the assailants to reach the crime spot.
The investigating officer however didn’t divulge more details about it. CPI (M) local leader Peethamabaran had been arrested on Tuesday in connection with the case.
Saji George was one among five people who were taken into custody in connection with the murders on Tuesday. The arrest was recorded on Wednesday evening.
Youth Congress workers Sharath Lal (24) and Kripesh (22) were killed on Sunday. Political vendetta allegedly claimed the lives of the youth.
Though Peethambaran in his statement to the police said that he had hacked Kripesh and Sharath Lal, Pradeep said that there were other people also.
"Peethambaran beat them with an iron rod; but there are others too who executed the crime. There were five to six people in total," Pradeep said.
He refuted reports that a team of goons was brought from Kannur to carry out the crime. Peethambaran, the prime accused in the case, was sent to seven days police custody on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, as the ripples created by the double murder continue to simmer, the video of a local leader of the CPI (M) issuing death threats to the Congress has come out.
CPI (M) District Secretariat member VP Mustafa in a speech on January 7 can be heard saying that if the Congress leaders act too smart, they would be finished off, in such way that there won't be anything left on their body to be even kept on the pyre.
"We have tolerated till the abyss. And we have forgiven the attack on comrades Peethambaran and Surendran that happened without any provocation. But if they continue to kick us, the CPI (M) will give it back. There will be no Kalyott or Govindan Nair or Baburaj (local Congress leaders) in front of that. They will be scattered to the extent that nothing will be left to even keep on the pyre," he said.
Peethambaran got injured in a scuffle between the DYFI and Youth Congress workers a couple of days before the speech. The vengeance born out of it is believed to have led to the murders.