Kasargod: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the twin murders of Youth Congress workers, Sharath Lal and Kripesh, at Periya arrested CPM Periya local committee member A. Peethambaran on Tuesday.
Six other CPM workers and supporters were taken into custody. The SIT has concluded that Peethambaran masterminded the murder with the help of professional killers. The probe team is working on the missing links in the statements of those in custody.
It has been established that the local political issue triggered the crime and that the killers were brought from outside with local arrangements. District police chief Dr. A. Srinivas, SIT head, confirmed that the CPM leader had instigated the murders.
A Mahindra Xylo car, which was found at Pakkam Velotholi, 5 km from Periya, was identified as the vehicle in which the assassins travelled. The Kasargod registration car points to the local support the killers got. The others in custody include the CPM man who posted a death threat to the victims on the social media and those who were involved in the clash with the victims.
According to sources, a KSU student of Kallyot was attacked by SFI activists at People’s College, Munnad. This was questioned by the Congress workers of Kallyot which led to the attack on Peethambaran and another CPM worker. Sharat was the prime accused in that case and Kripesh, the sixth. But the police removed Kripesh from the list as he was not involved in the attack. Sharath was out on bail in the case. It is learnt that a three-member gang hacked the duo to death.
