The mortal remains of Twenty20 activist CK Deepu, who succumbed to injuries sustained from alleged assault by a group of CPM workers, was laid to rest on Saturday.
Thousands paid their respects to the Dalit youth when his body was brought to his hometown Kizhakkambalam. The body was brought to Twenty20 Nagar, the premises of the Bhakshya Suraksha Market at Kizhakkambalam, at 3.30 pm from Kottayam Medical College Hospital.
Thousands of supporters of Twenty20, the political arm of corporate major Kitex, offered tribute. The body was taken to Deepu's house in a funeral procession. Deepu's last rites were performed at his house according to religious customs. The body was then taken to the public crematorium at Athani near Kakkanad where the cremation was held.
Earlier, the body was kept for public homage even though Deepu had tested positive for coronavirus in the test conducted after the death. The Twenty20 and Deepu's family members expressed doubts over the Covid test saying the positive result was made as part of a deliberate attempt by the ruling CPM to avoid public gatherings.
A large posse of police personnel had gathered in Kizhakkambalam anticipating political clashes between the activists of the Twenty20 and CPM.
Kitex Group's managing director Sabu M Jacob, who is also the chief coordinator of Twenty20, paid his homage to his party colleague at Kizhakakamabalam. Leader of the Opposition, V D Satheesan paid respects to Deepu at the latter's house.
Deepu died on Friday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi for internal injuries suffered during an assault allegedly inflicted by CPM workers on Saturday. He was admitted to a local hospital on Monday and shifted to the advanced facility after it was found that he had suffered internal injuries.
Head injury caused death: autopsy
The postmortem has identified an injury to the head as the primary reason for the death. Deepu also had liver disease that worsened his chances of survival, according to reports.
The Twenty20 outfit has alleged that it was a "preplanned murder" and the ruling CPM MLA P V Sreenijin should be named as the first accused in the case.
Jacob, in a press meet on Saturday, charged that Deepu was brutally beaten up for 15 minutes by the CPM workers last week and that the accused got in touch with the MLA before and after the incident.
The industrialist also wanted the investigators to examine the legislator's mobile phone to ascertain his links with the culprits.
"It was a pre-planned murder. He was actually beaten to death after week-long planning. It was carried out in a professional manner without causing any external injury. He did not get admitted to the hospital initially out of fear," he said.
The MLA knew everything and he should be named as the first accused in the incident, he said adding that when Deepu was taken to hospital the other day after he was found vomiting blood, the activist revealed to the doctors that he was attacked.
Alleging that over 50 activists of the Twenty20 were attacked in the last 10 months after Sreenijin was elected as the MLA of Kunnathunadu constituency, he also said people of the panchayats ruled by his party were 'terrorised' by the CPM and the MLA.
However, Sreenijin rejected the charges and said Sabu was trying to use the death of the youth for political gains.
He claimed that the stand taken by him against the alleged illegal activities by the industry group, owned by Sabu, was the reason for his provocation.
"Truth can not be distorted. It will come out somehow.... I welcome any kind of probe. I will initiate legal action against Sabu for raising
politically motivated charges against me," Sreenijan told media.
Deepu was allegedly assaulted by four CPM activists while he was campaigning in his neighbourhoods for the success of a 'lights-off' protest called by the Twenty20. The protest was organised by the Twenty20, which ruled the Kizhakkamabalam panchayat, alleging that Sreenijin was trying to undermine a street light project the panchayat had designed.
