KOZHIKODE: The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the CPM in protest against the killing of 32-year-old Sreejith, a DYFI worker in Morekara, near Malikadavu, in the city, on Monday was total in Kakkodi, while isolated incidents of violence were reported from some areas.
Miscreants pelted stones at a march taken out by the CPM in Kakkodi town on Monday morning. Two motorcycles parked in front of Sri Sankara Vidya Niketan School, Kakkodi, were set on fire and the office of the school was ransacked, allegedly by CPM workers.
Shops and commercial establishments in the area remained closed. Schools also declared holiday in view of the hartal. A large posse of police is still camping in the area.
No Political Angle
Though there is no political angle in the murder of 32-year-old Sreejith, a DYFI worker in Morekara, near Malikadavu in the city, it has been portrayed as a case of political vengeance. Adding fuel to the flames, CPM charged BJP-RSS workers behind the murder and both groups unleashed violence in the areas followed by a dawn-to-dusk hartal called by CPM in the area on Monday.
The rivalry between two local gangs led to the tension in the area, where the annual festival of Kozhippurathu Bhagavati Kavu was underway on Sunday night. Sreejith aka Jithu, a DYFI activist, was killed after a gang led by Sandeep,allegedly a BJP-RSS worker, and his aides unleashed attack on him on Sunday night.
DCP D Sali, who visited the spot, said that the issue has no political connection and it was also not related to the temple. “This could not be seen as a political incident. Besides,this was not happened on the premises of the temple. The gang attacked Sreejith at the paddy field in front of the house of Sandeep,” he added. Police recovered sticks with which Sreejith was reportedly lynched to death. According to the officials, the injuries on his head had led to the death.
According to the police, the attack was planned by the gang though they have no intention to murder him. Sreejith and Sandeep, were close friends and involved in many criminal cases, but they parted ways after an issue six months ago.
Both reportedly have links with quotation gangs and they were drug addicts, police said. Sandeep is still at large. Sreejith, son of a former police officer, was doing painting works and was notorious for his activities against political opponents. Following the murder, one motorcycle parked in the area was set ablaze. On Monday morning, two motorcycles parked in front of Sree Sankara Vidyaniketan School, Kakkodi, were set on fire.
Six Held
Police said that they have taken six persons on preventive arrests and implemented security to the house of Sandeep on Sunday night itself. With this, the situation in the area came under their control. A large posse of police is still camping in the area.
DCP Sali added that the police have identified the accused and they would be arrested soon. He added that those taken into custody have no links with the crime and they would look into the matter whether the suspect intentionally operated the murder. Police said that lone incidents of violence were reported in connection with the CPM hartal in the area. Miscreants hurled stones to a march conducted by CPM in Kakkodi town on Monday morning. While two bikes parked in front of Sri Snakara Vidya Niketan School, Kakkodi, were set on fire and office of the school was ransacked allegedly by CPM workers.
Meanwhile, RSS said that it has no connection with the murder of the youth at Malikadavu. “CPM is trying to divert the issue by politicising the murder. They should stop unleashing attacks on the houses and establishments of BJP-RSS workers in the name of the murder which occurred due to rivalry between quotation gangs. Police should take stringent action against the culprits,” said a press release issued by C Sreenivasan, RSS Kozhikode Mahanagar Karyavahak, on Monday.