Kasaragod: As many as 67 people from 27 families -- nearly 20 of them relatives of slain Youth Congress (YC) workers Kripesh and Sharathlal -- left the CPM and joined Congress at Kallyot near Periya.
The Youth Congress workers were hacked to death allegedly by CPM activists in February.
Apart from relatives of slain (YC) workers, those who joined the Congres s are mostly people of their locality, others are from their same village,Congress leader Balakrishnan Periya said.
“There had been a disinformation campaign against the two boys even after their murder. CPM workers from outside the village were brought to campaign in the houses, justifying the killings,” said Balakrishnan.
It was on February 17 that the two youngsters, who were also close friends, were hacked to death allegedly at the behest of local CPM leaders.
Though there was widespread criticism against the CPM, at first it came out with a statement that the killings were motivated by local rivalry and the party had no role in it.
After the first accused in the case, Peethambaran, was arrested, he was expelled from the party.
However, families of both the youngsters as well as Congress demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The Crime Branch stated in the High Court that local rivalry was the trigger for the murder.
The UDF had already made the political killings a poll issue throughout the state.
The CPM district committee denied that party activists had joined the Congress saying they were never party sympathisers.
New house for Kripesh's family
The family of Kripesh moved to their new house, constructed using the MLA fund of Hibi Eden, the UDF candidate in Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat.
The house – 'Kichoos' – named by Kripesh's friends, was completed under the Thanal project.
This is the 30th house constructed under the project and was finished within 44 days.
Pravasi Congress Kasaragod district committee also set up a bore well on the premises of the house.
The 1,100 square feet house has three bedrooms, kitchen, central hall and dining hall.
Hibi attended the house warming ceremony with family. UDF Kasaragod candidate Rajmohan Unnithan and Hakkim Kunnil were present.
