CPM defensive about political murders

The CPM-led government in Kerala is in the defensive once again, after CPM workers were accused of murder of two Youth Congress workers in Kasaragod.

With the twin murders of Kripesh (24) and Sarathlal (29) at Periya in Kasaragod on Sunday night, the total number of political murders since Pinarayi Vijayan took over the reins of the state in 2016 has come up to 21.

The term of the UDF-led government from 2011 to 2016 had seen 37 murders.

As CPM leaders are accused in many of the murders, the party has been accused of promoting "murder politics" in the state.

Recently, senior CPM leader P Jayarajan and MLA T V Rajesh were charged with the murder of an Indian Union Muslim League worker by the CBI.

With the Lok Sabha elections in the offing, the Congress will be highlighting the murder during their election campaigns.

Which is why Congress' initial decision to hold a shutdown in Kasaragod soon became a state-wide shutdown by late Sunday night.

Even Congress president Rahul Gandhi had spoken to the senior Congress leaders in Kerala about the incident and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

It was embarrassing for the CPM that the murders happened on the day the Left front was holding a march in the district highlighting the government's achievements.

Pinarayi, who held a closed-door meeting with CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, later said stern action would be taken, and if party workers were found to be responsible, they will not be given protection.

The victims had suffered about dozens of deep wounds each, including on the head. Kripesh's skull was split apart, which killed him immediately, sources said.

The Kerala Police have sought the help of Karnataka Police in the investigation as the murders are suspected to have escaped to Mangaluru.