Political rivalry behind Kasaragod murders, cops suspect role of 'quotation gang'

Sarathlal and Kripesh
Friends break down after Sharathlal (L) and Kripesh were killed at Periya in Kerala's Kasaragod district.

Kasaragod: Local political leaders on Monday revealed that political rivalry between Congress and CPM led to the brutal killing Sharathlal and Kripesh, two Youth Congress workers, at Periya in Kerala's Kasaragod district.

Sharathlal was hacked 15 times and Kripesh's head was smashed in the attack.

While the CPM denied any role, Congress alleged that the murders were premeditated and well-orchestrated.

Congress leader Balakrishnan Periya, who accompanied the bodies to Pariyaram Medical College, said the rivalry between the YC workers and the CPM began with an attack on Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists at Munnad People's College, a self-financing college in Kasaragod, in January. After the KSU activists were attacked, some Youth Congress workers stopped the college bus in Periya and threatened the staff.

This led to a scuffle between the local DYFI and Congress workers at Kallyott, an area where the Congress has an upper hand. CPM local committee member Peethambaran was injured in the fight and Sharath Lal was arrested and remanded in the case.

Sharath and Peethambaran were members of the same local temple committee, and on Sunday, an organising committee for the temple festival was called. DYFI sources say that an effort was made by the temple committee for compromise talks between the two parties and it failed. Sharath and Kripesh were hacked while they were returning from the meeting on the premises of the Devi temple in Kallyott.

Congress leaders alleged that Peethambaran planned the murder with the support of the district leaders. Sources in CPM admitted that Peethambaran is in hiding along with several other local leaders.

Police sources said a 'quotation gang' (hired) was behind the murders and the gang had followed the movements of the duo before attacking them.

Cops also claimed that the gang had received support from local people for committing the crime.

According to relatives, the duo had received death threats several times before and this was conveyed to the police and local MLA.

Read more: Latest Kerala news

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Onmanorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.