Kasargode: A. Peethambaran, the main accused in the murder case of Kripesh and Saratlal- two Youth Congress workers, has given statement against two CPM leaders outside Periye local committee. This has cornered the CPM into a more defensive position as the party has been portraying the murder a repercussion of a local feud. The accused gave the statement against CPM leaders to the local police before the case was handed over to the Crime Branch.
Peethambaran, in a statement given the previous day before the First Class Magistrate of Hosdurg, had denied his role in the murder and said that he confessed to the crime after the police's harassment. CPM is in more trouble now as Peethambaran retracted from the confession statement. It is following this that Peethambaran's statement that revealed the role of more CPM leaders was leaked. Seven people including Peethambaran and Kallyot branch committee member Saji C. George are under arrest in connection with the case.
The accused have given statement that the gang which committed the crime started their journey from Odayamchalil, near Kanhangad. They reached a party worker's home and changed the clothes. Later the murder was committed and the vehicle - Xylo with number KL 14 6869 - was abandoned at Velutholiyil. The gang reached the house of local committee leader and changed clothes after bathing. The area leader was apprised of the murder. The accused burnt their clothes after a lawyer gave legal advice to do so. Later, the gang got lodged at Chattanchal area committee office.
Meanwhile, Satyanarayanan and Krishnan, fathers of Sarathlal and Kripesh, while giving statement to the Crime Branch, alleged involvement of 12 CPM workers in the murder. The Crime Branch recorded their statement at their homes. Several others, including some belonging to the party and others also have figured in the statement. Both bereaved parents stated before Crime Branch SP VM Shafeeq that they had a grudge against the murdered.