Congress workers murder: Kasaragod witness total bandh; protest turns violent

Team Udayavani, Feb 18, 2019, 6:16 AM IST

Kasaragod: It is a total bandh in Kasaragod as a result of the Kerala bandh call given by youth Congress of Kerala and UDF under the leadership of Congress party in protest against the murder of two youth Congress workers on Sunday, February 17^th.

On Monday Feb 18^th, a protest march organised by the UDF early in the morning turned violent. The police had to open lathi charge to contain the situation. The protestors indulged in stopping vehicles on the highway and pulled down promotion material belonging to CPM and LDF.

With the tense situation prevailing in the city, the police are on high alert. On account of the bandh, buses have remained off-the-road and only a very few vehicles can be seen plying on the road.

For the investigation of the murder of the two youth Congress workers, a special investigation team has been formed under the leadership of DySP Pradeep of the crime department.

The crime

A gang had attacked Kripesh (24) and Sarath Lal (21), youth Congress workers, who were travelling on bike and hacked them to death at Periya Kalyot on the night of Sunday, February 17. First, the assailants hit the bike with their Jeep and as soon as the victims fell to the road, the occupants of the jeep launched a sword attack on the victims and fled after claiming their lives.

In the attack, Kripesh died on the spot while Sarath Lal died on the way to the hospital. The corpses have been sent to Periyaram medical college for autopsy after the inquest of the bodies was done at the general hospital in the city.

Preliminary investigation

Initial investigation suggests old enmity as the reason for the murders. Apparently there was clash between the activists of CPM and Congress parties a few days back. 11 persons belonging to either parties were arrested by the polic3e in connection to the fight. go after completing the judicial custody period, the accused were released and the deceased Sarath Lal was one of the accused in the clash.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president Mullapally Ramachandran will arrive to the city to take part in the funeral of the deceased duo on Monday, February 18.

Exams postpones

Due to the bandh that is being observed in the wake of the murders, the SSLC model exams and other school exams that were to be conducted on Monday, February 18, in the city have been postponed.