Nearly 3 months after Congress men's killings, violence continues in Periya; 8 arrested

_{Kasaragod: After a lull during the elections, violence is back in Kallyot, near Periya, where two Youth Congress workers – Sharathlal and Kripesh - were brutally killed on February 17. Country-made bombs were hurled at the house of Deepu Krishnan, a close friend of both the slain youngsters, around 11.15 pm on Sunday allegedly by CPM workers. In an apparent retaliation, houses of two CPM workers were attacked allegedly by Congress and Youth Congress workers, soon after the attack on Deepu's house.}

_{Though eight Congress and Youth Congress workers were arrested by Bekal police on Monday in the second attack, no one in the bombing case was arrested. UDF's Kasaragod candidate Rajmohan Unnithan said that the arrested workers were not in the premises of the clashes and they were innocent. He also led a dharna in front of the Bekal police station on Monday, demanding medical attention to the arrested men, who were injured in police custody.}

_{Sharathlal and Kripesh were killed, when they were going to buy special costume for Deepu's wedding. The wedding that was postponed after the murder of close friends, was held a few days ago. At the wedding ceremony also, photographs and cut-outs of both of them were placed, as a mark of respect.}

_{According to Deepu, a police aid post was set up in Kallyot after the killings and continuous violence. They had observed CPM men from outside roaming around the area and clicking their photographs in mobile phones.}

_{“When we complained at the aid post, they did not take it seriously. Afterwards, there were scuffle between Congress and CPM workers in the area and on Saturday evening, a relative of Valsaraj (a controversial businessman in the area, who is suspected to have informed the killers about the slain youth's movements) was seen stalking me for some time. I have identified five men who hurled the bombs at my house,” Deepu said.}

_{Police reached the spot and soon many Congress and Youth Congress workers also gathered there. Within hours, houses of Valsaraj and CPM local committee member Balakrishnan were attacked. Nearly six vehicles parked on the premises of Valsaraj's house were attacked, Bekal CI Latheesh told Onmanorama.}

_{Eight Congress and Youth Congress workers – MK Satheesan, Chandran Arampallam, Gopakumar, Vivek Arampallam, Anand Krishnan, Sanal Kallyot, Vijith and Gireesh Chandanmullu – were taken into custody. Gopakumar and Gireesh suffered injuries in police violence and were taken to district hospital and brought back to station.}

_{However, no further treatment was provided to the injured workers, though Gopakumar had eight stitches on his head, alleged Unnithan. After the protest in front of the station, all of them were taken to district hospital for medical examination. The Congress leader alleged conspiracy behind taking no action against attackers in bombing case and immediate arrest of Congress workers.}