Police have arrested three CPI (M) workers in connection with the murder of BJP worker Shamoj from Mahe in Kannur.
The arrested have been identified as MM Shaji, 36, Shabin, 27- both natives of Cheru Kallayi in Mahe, and Lijin, 27, hailing from Pallur in Kannur.
"The arrest happened late on Friday from Vadakara in Kozhikode. The accused are CPI (M) workers,” Thalassery DySP Chaitra Teresa John told TNM. The arrested reportedly have direct involvement in the murder though the officer declined to divulge such details. There are eight accused in the case and five are yet to be nabbed.
Shamoj was attacked barely hours after Babu Kannappoyil an active CPI (M) worker was hacked to death by a group of unidentified assailants on the night on May 7.
Shamoj, an auto driver, died the same night while he was being shifted to the Kozhikode Medical College. Shamoj was attacked at a place just 1.5 kilo meter away from where Babu was hacked, apparently in a retaliatory act.
While the CPI (M) leaders have been accusing the RSS for the murder of Babu, the BJP and RSS in turn alleged that Shamoj was killed by Left party workers.
On May 14, three persons were arrested in connection with Babu's killing. The arrested are Nijesh PK, Jerin Suresh and Sarath PK. They were arrested by the Puducherry police.
A long-standing enmity between Babu and the accused is suspected to be the reason behind the murder. Two others are absconding in the case.
Since both the murders were reported from the politically sensitive Kannur district, heated debates had ensued. The Congress which is in the opposition staged protests against the 'fall of law and order in the state'.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has accused both the CPI (M) and the BJP of killing people.