Local CPI(M) Leaders Knew Of Kannur Congress Worker’s Murder?

The murder of Youth Congress leader S P Shuhaib of Mattanur in Kerala’s Kannur district allegedly took place with the knowledge of the local leadership of the Communist Party of India -Marxist (CPI-M), reported Malayalam media quoting police sources. A five-member gang killed Shuhaib on 12 February at Edayannur and two persons – Aakash Thillankeri alias M V Aakash and Rajin Raj surrendered to police on 18 February in connection with the case. Both the surrendered persons confessed to police that the attack took place with the knowledge CPI-M local leaders.

Police said they were looking out for a few more people and are in the full know of the persons behind the murder. Police sources claimed that the gang’s intention was only to chop Shuhaib’s leg to immobilise him permanently and not kill him.

Malayala Manorama in a report said that Aakash was active web member of CPI-M. He had taken a selfie with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Kannur CPI-M district secretary P Jayarajan. Akash and Rajin are also accused in the murder of murder of RSS worker Mavila Vineesh in Thillankeri in 2016. Aakash, a student studying hospitality management in Kochi, was out on bail in the Vineesh case.

In a related development, Kannur Congress leader K Sudhakaran, who has launched a 48-hour fast on Monday morning, demanding arrest of all those involved, has written to CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury seeking his intervention to bring the culprits to book. On his part, Kerala CPI-M State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan denied his party had anything to do with the murder. He said stringent action will taken against any party worker found involved in the murder.

Over two dozen political murders have taken place in Kerala after the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Government came to power in May 2016.