Mangaluru: The eighth accused in the Periya twin murder case, who had fled to Sharjah, was nabbed by the Kerala Police on Thursday morning at Mangaluru airport. The accused is identified as Subeesh. He had fled from his home town in Kerala on February 17 after the murder.

According to sources, Subeesh was at his native in the first few days after the murder was committed. But later as the investigation intensified, he had fled.

Meanwhile, in a setback to the LDF government, two CPI(M) leaders were arrested by the Crime Branch on Tuesday and later released on bail. The arrested are Manikandan, Uduma secretary and Balakrishnan, Kalyot branch secretary. Cases were filed against them for destroying evidence and abetting the escape of the accused.

Earlier, the CPI(M) Periya local area committee member A Peethambaran confessed to the police that he plotted the killings of two Youth Congress workers over personal rivalry.

Sarath and Kripesh, the two Youth Congress workers, were hacked to death in a conflict with CPI(M) members at Kalyot, Periya near Kasaragod on February 17.

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.

The statements of the seven accused mentioned that they committed the crime in an inebriated state. The police also hinted that more people are involved in the crime apart from the seven in custody and are continuing with the investigation.