Kasaragod: In a new twist to the twin murders of Youth Congress workers Kripesh and Sharathlal at Periya in Kerala's Kasaragod district, the police on Friday recovered two more swords, one with blood stains, supposedly used for the crime.
Earlier, the police had recovered a rusted sword and a handle from an abandoned well. This had led to allegations that the cops were trying to scuttle the probe as the injuries on the YC men's bodies were so deep that only a sharp-edged weapon could have inflicted such wounds. However, the recovery of two more swords on Friday has supported the previous assumption that the assailants had used several swords to kill the duo.
According to police, the swords were discarded by the assailants soon after the crime on Sunday. One of the recovered swords had blood stains on it.
A red shirt of third accused KM Suresh was also recovered from a coconut plantation where the gang had taken cover after the double murder. Clothes worn by other accused were found burnt nearby.
One accused who was directly involved in the murder is still at large. More people who had helped the gang go into hiding and destroy evidence are expected to be arrested soon.
An empty house at Velutholi, Pakkam, where the gang had found shelter and bathed after the incident has been identified, the police stated.
The case will be handed over to the Crime Branch within a couple of days after a decision on this was announced on Thursday.
The rusted theory?
The rusted swords had raised suspicions after sources said that anybody with normal intelligence will never use such a weapon for a crime like this.
The sword cuts on both Kripesh and Sharathlal were deep. Kripesh's skull was split into two. Sharathlal’s leg bones were cut deep. Nobody can make such injuries on a body with a rusted sword, revealed sources in forensic department. Forensic experts claimed that it takes a sharp-edged heavy weapon to make such deep injuries. All 20 injuries on Sharathlal’s body were inflicted with a sword not with a rod. The cut on his forehead was 23cm long. Another cut from ear to neck was also not inflicted with a rod. No injuries with blunt weapons like iron rod were identified in the autopsy or inquest report Going by the nature of injuries, the probe team suspects a sharp-edged weapon like a knife or sword was used.
CPM blames Congress on CM cancelling visit
Kripesh’s father PV Krishnan said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had backed out of visiting the two victims’ houses as he realised his party’s role in the crime.
The victims’ families had earlier welcomed chief minister’s plan to visit.
Meanwhile, the CPM blamed Congress district leadership’s stance for the CM’s last-minute withdrawal from the visit. However, the District Congress Committee clarified it had received no communication regarding the CM’s plan.
The CM was in Kasaragod on Friday to lay foundation stone of CPM district committee office.
The DCC’s opinion was sought on his visit to the victim’s families. But the DCC authorities had replied the CM has the right to visit and the Congress has the right to protest and hence the planned visit was cancelled.
However, DCC president Hakim Kunnil said no one approached the party with the said proposal.
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