Kayamkulam: A Congress municipal councillor and two others were arrested in connection with the murder of a CPI(M) activist here on August 18 night, the police said on Thursday.
Kayamkulam resident Siyad Tharayil, 34, a fish merchant, was attacked by motorcycle-borne assailants who hacked him to death and injured two of his friends.
Police said Siyad was returning home after handing over food to a local quarantine centre when prime accused Mujeeb Rahman (Vetta Mujeeb, 38) and Shafeeq, approached on a motorcycle and hacked him to death.
Kayamkulam municipal councillor Kavil Nisam was arrested for allegedly helping the accused to escape after the crime and failing to inform the police about the incident.
Eruva natives Mujeeb Rahman and Vidoba Faisal are the others in police custody. The search is on for nabbing Shafeeq, the police said.
Police said Congress councillor Nisam and Faisal were taken into custody for questioning. Police later recorded the arrest of Nisam, while Faisal was let off.
Nisam is accused of taking Mujeeb to his house after the attack on Siyad.
The CPI(M) had observed a one-day hartal on Wednesday protesting the killing of its party worker.
CPI(M) party chief Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged the Congress leadership's role behind the attack has become clear with their councillors coming to the rescue of the gang.
The Congress district leadership said the party was not involved in the attack.
