Kannur: Putting the ruling CPM in a spot of bother, party ranks accused in the Payyoli Manoj murder case have come forward with revelations against the organization. One of the accused said it was a concerted fraud involving the CPM and the BJP. It was a late realization that the party was cheating the cadres accused in the killing of the BMS leader, he said.
The CPM leadership had promised their release within three months when they were asked us to surrender to the police, the accused said. He and the others 'tasked' with the murder arrived in Payyoli with the knowledge of the district secretary whom the CBI had taken into custody.
What the accused said: A promise was made that we will be released within three months. We surrendered to the police because Chandu master (CPM district committee member) asked us to. There was a promise that the case will be settled, paying some money to Manoj's family. The party had told us to go ahead and be assured that it will take care of whatever comes up. We were also told that the list for arrest was given by the BJP. But we realized after the arrest that there was no such list and that this was a concerted fraud involving the two parties. Once we surrendered to the police, all promises proved fake.
The CPM came out against the CBI probe only to save the real culprits. We do not want to face the media because we fear for our lives. The accused admitted openly that all six former accused landed in huge debts because of the case. They said they cannot anymore take it if a new case or fresh problems cropped up.
Nine including seven CPM cadres are in CBI custody in this case. Manoj, an autorickshaw driver and BMS leader, was attacked by a gang in Payyoli in February 2012. He died subsequently.
