Kannur: Akash Thillenkeri and Rajin Raj, the youths arrested in connection with the murder of Youth Congress Mattannur block secretary Shuhaib, are innocent, Akash’s father Vanjeri Ravi has claimed.
Both were called to the police station and were arrested on the way, he said, refuting the statement of the police that the arrests were carried out following a chase. “Akash and Rajin had no role in the Shuhaib murder. In fact, they were at a temple when the incident took place,” said Ravi.
According to him, the youths had been trapped by the police. “After the arrests, I approached CPM leaders, but they asked me to prove the innocence of the youths in court,” he said.
Explaining the circumstances of Akash going into hiding, Ravi said it was to escape the malicious propaganda of the BJP regarding a bomb case.
North zone DGP Rajesh Dewan had claimed that the arrested persons were CPM activists and the ‘real’ accused. The police version is that Shuhaib was killed by a five-member gang with the full knowledge of the CPM local leaders based in Mattannur and nearby areas. Shuhaib became a target of the CPM leaders after he intervened in a dispute between SFI and KSU activists in Edayannur higher secondary school, said police officers. There were reports that the arrested youths had told the police that their original plan was to hack Shuhaib’s legs and spare his life.
Meanwhile, the court remanded M V Akash (24) of Thillenkeri and Rajin Raj (26) of Karuvalli in the Shuhaib murder case. Both are among the accused in the case of killing RSS worker Vineesh also. Akash is facing 11 charges related to political violence and other incidents. He was earlier charged under Kerala Anti-social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA) too.
Read: Latest Kerala News
