KOCHI: The CBI court in Kochi on Saturday found 14 people, including former CPM MLA K V Kunhiraman, guilty of murdering Youth Congress leaders Sarath Lal P K, 23, and Kripesh, 19, at Periya in Kasaragod on February 17, 2019, a case that came to be known as the Periya twin murders. As many as 10 people were acquitted.
A Peethambaran (former CPM Periya local committee member), K Manikandan (Kanhangad block panchayat president), K V Kunhiraman (former Udma MLA and CPM Kasaragod district secretariat member), Raghavan Velutholy alias Raghavan Nair (former CPM Pakkam local secretary), besides Saji C George, Suresh K M, Anil Kumar K alias Abu, Gijin Gangadharan, Shrirag R alias Kuttu, Aswin A alias Appu, Subeesh alias Mani, Ranjith T alias Appu, A Surendran alias Vishnu Sura, and K V Bhaskaran (all CPM sympathisers), have been convicted.
The court will announce the sentence on January 3. The acquitted persons are Murali A, Pradeep alias Kuttan, Manikandan B, Balakrishnan N, Madhu A alias Sastha Madhu, Reji Varghese, Hariprasad A, Rajesh P alias Raju, Gopa Kumar V alias Gopan Velutholy and Sandeep P V alias Sandeep Velutholy.
The murder was committed in retaliation to an attack on first accused Peethambaran and co-accused Surendran on January 5, 2019, by Sarath and others at Kalliot in Kasaragod following a clash between KSU and SFI members.
After Sarath was released from jail in the assault case, Peethambaran and Gijin Gangadharan, a schoolmate who nursed a grudge against him, decided to retaliate. Sarath and Kripesh were waylaid and attacked by eight men beside the Kalliot-Thannithode road that passes by the arecanut plantation owned by Gijin’s family.
Victims’ parents welcome verdict
Parents and relatives of deceased Sarath Lal and Kripresh, who were present at the CBI court to witness the proceedings, welcomed the verdict.
“We cannot be happy as our sons were murdered by CPM leaders and party workers. However, the verdict is a relief for us. All the accused could have been found guilty in the case. We will request CBI to file an appeal in the higher court against the acquittal of 10 persons in the case.
The verdict should be a lesson to the CPM which has no mercy in taking the lives of innocent people. We thank the people of Kerala, CBI and judiciary for supporting us,” Sarath Lal’s father Sathyanarayanan said.
According to Kripesh’s father Krishnan P V, the verdict is a major blow to the violent politics of CPM. “We hope that the verdict will deter CPM party workers from murdering others for political interest. We hope that persons found guilty will get a deserving sentence,” he said.
Accused seeks death sentence, says he is innocent
The crime branch had filed a chargesheet against 14 people. Later, on the Kerala High Court’s directive, the CBI took over the probe and arraigned 10 more people, including CPM leaders, and filed a chargesheet in 2022. Though the state government challenged the HC directive on handing over the probe before an HC division bench as well as the Supreme Court, it did not get a favourable decision.
Kunhiraman, Manikandan, Raghavan and Bhaskaran requested the court to continue their bail until the sentence against them was announced. Though the CBI strongly objected to their plea, the court allowed them to continue on bail and to be present before the court on January 3.
While the court heard the accused on the quantum of sentence, 15th accused Surendran – charged with conspiracy, destruction of evidence and others – turned emotional and demanded a death sentence, saying he was innocent and was arrested for no reason.
Seventh accused Aswin, who was found guilty of murder, demanded lenience as he was arrested at the age of 18 and continued in jail. He said he wanted to complete his education and join the Indian Army.
Kunhiraman, who was convicted of obstructing lawful apprehension of the accused, submitted that he, in fact, helped the police with the investigation. He too sought leniency, claiming he was more than 60 years old now.
Charges
Eight accused directly involved in the crime found guilty under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147, (rioting), 201 (destruction of evidence), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 120(b) criminal conspiracy.
Four found guilty under IPC Section 225 (obstructing lawful apprehension of accused).
Two found guilty of conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and obstructing lawful apprehension of the accused.
Murdered in retaliation
Youth Congress leaders Sarath Lal K P, 23, and Kripesh, 19, waylaid and attacked by eight men at Periya in Kasaragod on February 17, 2019,
Murder in retaliation to attack on first accused Peethambaran and co-accused Surendran on January 5, 2019, by Sarath and others following a clash between KSU and SFI members.
Crime branch arraigned 14 people. Later, on the Kerala HC’s directive, CBI took over and arraigned 10 more, including CPM leaders.
State government challenged the HC directive in Supreme Court, but it did not get favourable decision.
During the trial, which commenced in February 2023, 154 witnesses, 495 documents and 83 material objects were examined.