Kannur: The Kerala Police Crime Branch will investigate the case relating to the killing of a 22-year-old Youth League activist in a post-poll clash allegedly between workers of the CPI(M) and the IUML on April 6.
District Superintendent of Police Ilango R told reporters here that a 15-member team headed by a Crime Branch Deputy SP would probe into the case.
The announcement comes a day after widespread violence was witnessed during the funeral procession of the Youth League member, Mansoor.
At least 10 Left party offices were vandalised and police had resorted to baton charge and used tear gas to disperse a violent mob on Wednesday night.
Mansoor, a Muslim League worker, and his brother Muhsin were hacked by a group of assailants near their house at Pullookkara near Koothuparamba in Kannur district around midnight on Tuesday. Muhsin, who is being treated for his injuries in a hospital in Kozhikode, said the assailants, about 20 of them, asked for their names before attacking them.
The Youth league is the youth wing of the IUML, a key ally of the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front.
Earlier in the day, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) boycotted the peace-meeting called by District Collector T V Subhash following the clashes.
"We are not interested in discussing the matter with those who were involved in the murder. The police has neither questioned nor arrested the culprits..," Congress District Committee President, Satheeshan Pacheni said.
The UDF leaders told the media that they would take part in peace talks once the accused in the murder case are arrested.
They also alleged that the police had arrested and brutally beaten up over a dozen IUML activists for 'vandalising' the ruling party offices.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) leaders visited the party offices and houses targeted in the violence and claimed that the attack was a "conspiracy."
"The league criminals have conspired and organised violence in the area. The League leadership was silent and encouraged it," CPI(M) district secretary M V Jayarajan told the media.
During the violence following the funeral of Mansoor, the CPI(M) Peringathur local committee office, branch committee offices in the town, Aachimukku, Keezhmadam, Kochiyangado and Kadavathur branch committee offices have been vandalised and a few libraries were burned down allegedly by the Indian Union Muslim League workers.
Koothuparamba assembly constituency in the northern Kerala district witnessed a fierce contest between K P Mohanan of the Lok Janatantrik Dal, a partner of the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front and Pottankandy Abdullah of the IUML.
(With PTI inputs)
