Kerala RSS leader murder: Way for NIA cleared soon after murder

Kozhikode: Though the procedures  to hand over the investigation into  the murder of RSS leader Manoj  to the National Investigation Agency are  in the pipeline, the crucial decision was taken on the day of the murder itself.

Manoj was hacked by unidentified assassins at Ukhasmotta, Kathiroor near Thalassery on Monday, after they threw country bombs to scare away the public.   
Police sources told Deccan Chronicle that acting on legal advice,  the Kannur district police were  directed by higher authorities to invoke sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the case while registering the FIR.   

By handing over the case to the NIA, the UDF government can kill  two birds with one stone. On the one hand it would snuff out  the BJP  agitation as the centre would be responsible for any failure in the investigation.  At the same time, the  Congress can wash of  its hands if any of the senior CPM leaders, including CPM Kannur district secretary P. Jayarajan and son Jain Jayarajan, are arrested in connection with the murder. The hasty press conference called by P. Jayarajan on Friday indicates that the CPM leadership has taken the issue seriously.

Crime Branch ADGP S. Ananthakrishnan was not forthcoming on Thursday on the  queries of reporters on invoking the UAPA  in a political murder. The Act was earlier slapped only in terrorism cases like in the attack on Parliament complex. Mr Ananthakrishnan expressed his ignorance of  invoking the Act saying when the Crime Branch received the case, the Act was invoked and the investigation would be  in tune with the sections slapped.  

Sources also said that there were many missing links in the First Information Report registered and that witnesses were  weak which also forced the Home Ministry to invoke the UAPA sections as the primary evidence was insufficient to grill the accused. The torrential rain  that lashed the region also made it tough for forensic and fingerprint experts to gather evidence, it is learnt. 

The eyewitnesses are RSS workers and if not well-supported by strong other evidence, it is feared that the case may fall flat in the court during the trial.