KOZHIKODE: The investigators probing the murder of T P Chandrasekharan have zeroed in on Rafeek, a native of Palloor in Mahe who had been jailed earlier for engineering political violence in Thalassery area.
According to the sources, Rafeek, who led the gang which executed the brutal murder, has close connections with the CPM. He secured the Innova car with registration number KL-58D 8144 from Harris, a native of Thalassery.
Harris, who also has links with CPM, took the car for rent from the brother-in-law of the registered owner K P Naveen, an engineer based at Thalassery. The police have recorded the statement of Naveen who said that the car had been rented out.
The police said that forensic and finger print experts examined the vehicle. Police also pointed out a mystery related with the last phone call received by Chandrasekharan on Friday.
Police confirmed that an investigation was also going in the direction.
“After visiting a wedding house at Orkattery, Chandrasekharan was going home on his bike. On getting a phone call, he opted for another way instead of the usual one. The phone message stated that there was some issues near Vallikodu League house and asked him to come soon,” said a police official.
The post-mortem examination of Chandrasekharan found multiple wounds on his face and hands.
The autopsy report said the blow to his head with a sharp weapon fractured his skull which led to his death, said Kozhikode Medical College Hospital officials.
Security Failure
The revelations made by DGP Jacob Punnoose that the state police was aware of the threat to Chandrasekharan’s life indicate that the government failed to take concrete steps to give him protection.
Although he had not filed any formal requests for protection before the authorities, Chandrasekharan on several occasions had aired fears for his life, including during a press conference at Kozhikode Press Club on March 17. Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran revealed that the RMP leader had informed him of the threat several times.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said last month Chandrasekharan had told him of the prevailing tension between CPM and RMP workers. Onchiyam has witnessed several riots between CPM and RMP activists, ever since CPM-rebel Chandrasekharan floated the revolutionary faction on 2009.
“He was aware of the CPM plan to attack him,” alleged Onchiyam panchayat president P Jayarajan.
“The CPM attempted to attack him several times during the last four years, but failed. This was the first time the assailants directly met him,” alleged RMP youth wing Onchiyam block president K Jayan.
The Edachery police too admitted that they were aware about the threat to his life. “Though we had not received any official information about the security concerns of Chandrasekharan, we used to keep a watch on his residence during night patrol,” said Edachery SI Binu Thomas.