Kasaragod double murder: Ex-CPM Peethambaran sings, police recover weapons

Kasaragod: On Wednesday, Kerala Police recovered weapons used in the double murder of Youth Congress workers that occurred in Kasaragod on 17 February. CPI(M) former local committee member A Peethambaran identified the weapons after he led police to where they were kept. The weapons include swords and iron rods.

Earlier, Peethambaran confessed to the police that he committed the crime. A couple of hours of Peethambaran's confession, his wife Manju spoke out about the murder on camera and said that he wouldn't have committed the crime without the knowledge of the party (CPM). She also referred to an earlier incident when Peethambaran was attacked by Youth Congress members, CPI(M) workers extended their support. However, she mentioned, given the criticality of the situation, nobody has come out in support of her husband who, she claims, was acting on the party’s behalf.  Instead, Peethambaran has been suspended from the party, she added.

Peethambaran will be also subjected to a medical examination and will later be produced before court. The police have hinted that more people were involved in the crime apart from the seven in custody. However, Peethambaran maintains that he acted alone. But contrary to his claim, police recovered three mobile phones at the scene of the crime. The mobile phones did not belong to the victims.

Furthermore, the number of weapons recovered also, suggest otherwise.

Media reports also quoted Peethambaran’s mother who said that her son’s hand was fractured and so it was impossible for him to have committed the crime.

Meanwhile, Peethambaran's daughter Devika said that her father was expelled from the party only because of the upcoming Lok Sabha election. “If the party fails to expel him, then the party won't get votes and the party will lose face,” said Devika.

Sarath and Kripesh, the two Youth Congress workers, were hacked to death at Kallyot, Periya, near Kasaragod, on 17 February.