Kannur: The remand report presented by the police at the Mattannur Judicial First Class Magistrate court I, Mattannur on Tuesday stressed that CPM men were behind the murder of Youth Congress leader Shuhaib in Edayannur and that the accused attacked him with the intention of killing him. This is contrary to their earlier statement that the victim died of profuse bleeding and that it was not a premeditated murder.
Police had arrested two CPM workers, Akash MP, son of Raveendran, Thillankery and Rejil Raj, son of Rajan, Thillankery, in connection with the murder, and North zone DGP Rajesh Dewan said on Monday that they were directly involved in the killing. Police reiterated that the reason for the attack were the clashes between the KSU and SFI at Edayannnur government high school after KSU won the elections and three CITU workers were injured allegedly for trying to disrupt the union meeting. The attack on Shuhaib is claimed to be a counterattack for this.
However, Shuhaib’s friend E. Noushad, who was also attacked along with him, revealed that Akash was not among the three people who hacked them. He was not sure whether the accused was present inside the vehicle or was part of the conspiracy. The killers had worn masks but from their stature, and Akash, being notorious for his criminal involvement in other cases, it was sure that he was not among the three who hacked them.
Congress leaders also reiterated their distrust in the investigation. K. Sudhakaran, who started a 48-hour hunger strike on Monday said that he was extending it to an indefinite strike. Prominent leaders including Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, KPCC president M.M. Hassan, Oommen Chandy, K. Muraleedharan, VT Balram and DCC president Satheesan Pacheni were at the venue in front of the Collectorate.
