Kasaragod: The State Election Commission of Kerala has temporarily disqualified a panchayat member belonging to the CPM considering his conviction in the case of murder of a BMS activist back in 1998.

The member, S Kogglu, represents Ward 14 in Kumbla panchayat in Kasaragod district of Kerala. Kogglu, aged 45 years now, is also a member of the CPM's Kumbla local committee.

The incident related to the case took place on October 9, 1998. That day, Kogglu and two others had entered into an argument with Vinu (19), an activist of the RSS-affiliated trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) in a cinema theatre at Kumbla. The reason for the dispute was that Vinu, who was sitting in the row behind Kogglu, reportedly placed his feet on the shoulders of Kogglu and others while the movie was going on.

After the film show, Kogglu and two others had killed Vinu while they were heading home, according to the prosecution. Kogglu was subsequently arrested and after trial, the District Sessions Court, Kasaragod sentenced him to seven years rigorous imprisonment.

Kogglu filed an appeal before the Kerala High Court against the verdict of the Sessions Court and while his plea was under the consideration of the court, contested the local body elections, in which he secured victory.

The High Court, in an order issued on December 20 last year, upheld Kogglu's conviction and reduced his sentence to four years. Kogglu was preparing to file an appeal against the High Court order before the Supreme Court when the State Election Commission disqualified him on a temporary basis.

Meanwhile, State Election Commission authorities said the temporary disqualification will be in force till a final decision is taken.