Kasaragod: The team lead by the crime branch submitted the charge sheet with respect to the murder of Youth Congress workers Sarathlal and Kripesh at Periya in Kasaragod, Kerala. The charge sheet says that the motive behind the crime was personal vendetta.

Sarath and Kripesh, the two Youth Congress workers, were hacked to death while in conflict with CPI(M) members at Periya near Kasaragod on February 17. The charge sheet also says that many politicians are involved in the crime. A total of 14 accused, including CPI(M) area secretary, are involved in the case. 

The crime branch submitted the charge sheet after 92 days since the crime was committed. The 900-page charge sheet was submitted before the Kanjangadu first class magistrate court on Monday. The report says a total of 229 witnesses, 105 evidences and 50 documents are there in the case.

A total of 14 accused are present in the Periya twin murder case. They are identified as Manikandan, Balakrishnan, Unni, Pradeep, Renjith, Murali, Subeesh, Ashwin, Sreerag, Gijin, Anil, Suresh, Saji C George and A Peethambaran. All the accused are also CPI(M) followers or local leaders of the party. All the accused with the exception of accused no 12, 13 and 14 are still in jail. 

The eighth accused in the Periya twin murder case, who had fled to Sharjah, was nabbed by the Kerala Police on May 16 morning. The accused is identified as Subeesh. He fled his place on February 17 after the murder. 

Periya local area committee member A Peethambaran confessed to police that he plotted the murder of two Youth Congress workers over personal rivalry.

Peethambaran told the police that he was earlier attacked by the duo and that the CPI(M) did not act even after it was brought to its notice, and hence took matters into his own hands. Peethambaran had previously complained to the CPI(M) about Sarath and Kripesh, who were the accused in the case where Peethambaran was attacked.