THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday finally broke his silence, nearly a week on since the gruesome murder of Youth Congress leader M Shuhaib slain by alleged CPM assailants near Mattannur in Kannur. In a statement, the CM denounced the killing and said the police have been asked to take stern action against the assailants.
The statement came on the day when two CPM members suspected of involvement in the murder surrendered before the police. “The police investigation will be free and fair. It will neither be influenced by the name nor connections of the perpetrators,” he said.Some of them are already in custody and more arrests will follow. The Chief Minister requested everyone’s cooperation for lasting peace in the region.
Earlier, the Chief Minister had come under fire from the Opposition over his failure to condemn the political murder in his home district even as he spoke out against the culture of political violence. Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala had accused the Chief Minister’s Office of ‘delaying’ the arrest of the culprits involved in the murder. He had demanded the police should investigate the involvement of the CPM’s Kannur brass in the murder.
Kodiyeri promises stringent action
Thrissur: CPM state general secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that stringent action will be taken if party workers are found to have a hand in the murde Shuhaib, who was hacked to death on February 12.
Kodiyeri also dismissed allegations that the party had planned and executed the murder.His statement comes in the wake of photographs of the accused posing with CPM leaders coming to light.The murder has to be condemned. Let the police find the actual people involved in the murder, he added.
Kanthapuram meets CM to demand action against killers
T’Puram: All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar met Pinarayi on Sunday to demand the arrest of those responsible for the murder of Shuhaib. Kanthapuram called for an impartial and fair investigation into the murder. Later, talking to reporters, he quoted the CM as saying that the government had received clear indications regarding the identities of the murderers. He demanded the government to ensure none of the accused go scot-free.
Stones hurled at DYFI, Kairali TV offices; probe under way
T’Puram: Unidentified persons hurled stones at the DYFI office and Kairali TV headquarters at Palayam on Saturday night. The Museum police began a probe and they suspect the involvement of anti-social elements. According to the police, the incident took place at around 11 pm when some persons came on a motorcycle and hurled stones at the office located at Kunnukuzhy near the MLA quarters at Palayam. However, there was no major damage to the office building as the security guard managed to rush to the spot when a stone was hurled. The police have already started verifying the CCTV footage to trace the culprits. “ Efforts are on to trace the culprits. The visuals recorded in the CCTVs installed in the nearby area are being verified. Soon, all the culprits will be caught,” said Museum SI G Sunil.
Attack was premeditated, says Kodikkunnil
Kollam: A day after his vehicle came under attack from alleged DYFI-CPM activists at Alappuzha following a clash involving KSU and DYFI activists there, Kodikkunil Suresh MP alleged the attack was premeditated. Condemning the attack against the KSU activists, the MP said the CPM is continuing its ‘political fascism’ and denying other parties their right to function in a democratic society. “An elected representative has come under attack. The CPM local leadership is engaging in vendetta politics with the backing of the CPM-led LDF Government. It seems the CPM and its youth outfits are undermining the concept of democracy,” said Kodikkunil. Meanwhile, N K Premachandran MP condemned the attack on the MP’s vehicle.said in a statement the CPM has become votaries of the politics of violence.