CPM leaders arrested for twin political murders

Thiruvananthapuram, DHNS: The ruling CPM in Kerala is in a tight spot with a local leader having been arrested by the police in connection with the murder of two Youth Congress workers at Kasargod.

The state's governor has asked for an urgent report in the matter.

The Youth Congress is planning a march from the northern district of Kasaragod to the CPM state office in Thiruvananthapuram in the south with the ashes of the deceased Youth Congress workers.

This would be a cause of much embarrassment to the CPM, which already faced allegations of promoting "murder politics"

The CPM is more worried as the Lok Sabha elections are in the offing.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the CPM would not indulge in such an act now, especially since the party was fully focused on a state-wide procession highlighting the achievements of the LDF government over the last 1,000 days of governance.

The chief minister was irritated when some journalists asked if the party would have supported such murders if the procession was not happening at the moment.

Peethambaran, a local committee member of the party from Kasaragod was arrested by the police in connection with the murder. The CPM immediately expelled him from the party.

Kasaragod police chief A Srinivas said Peethambaran was arrested after his role in plotting the murders was revealed.

The search for those who executed the murder is still on.

The Congress, the Youth Congress and the Kerala Students' Union announced financial support to the economically weak families of the deceased.

Youth Congress workers Kripesh and Sarathlal were hacked to death on Sunday night owing to political rivalry.