Ten CPI-M Members Sentenced to Double Life Terms; Former MLA Receives Five-Year Prison Sentence for Murder of Two Congress Workers

Kochi, Jan 3 (NationPress) A special CBI court has sentenced 10 CPI-M activists to double life imprisonment and four additional individuals, including a former party legislator, to five years in prison concerning the Periya twin murder case.

On the previous Saturday, the CBI court had found 14 individuals guilty while acquitting 10 others in the case relating to the brutal killings of Kerala Youth Congress workers Kripesh (19) and P.K. Sarath Lal (24) on February 17, 2019, in Periya, Kasaragod district.

However, the families of the deceased expressed their disappointment, stating they expected capital punishment for the accused. They plan to discuss their concerns with the Congress leadership and appeal against the ruling.

The victims were reportedly murdered by CPI-M members in a politically-driven assault.

The court determined that eight of the defendants were directly involved in the twin murders, while six others had indirect roles.

The eight individuals directly involved in this cold-blooded murder received double life terms, while two co-conspirators were also sentenced to double life terms.

Among those convicted is former MLA and CPI-M district leader K.V. Kunhiraman, who was accused of forcibly removing the second accused from police custody. Kunhiraman has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Initially investigated by the Crime Branch, the case was later transferred to the CBI following a petition from the victims' families in the High Court.

The CBI established that the murders were a result of a series of politically motivated confrontations between CPI-M and Congress members in the area.

A large gathering of Congress supporters and family members of the two victims assembled at their memorial site in Periya, Kasargod. After the verdict was announced, several women from the families of the victims were seen in tears.

Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan commented on the verdict, noting that among those charged are a former CPI-M legislator and party workers.

“Throughout this ordeal, CPI-M leadership has denied any involvement from their leaders or workers in this heinous crime. Now, they face sentencing. This reflects how CPI-M operates,” stated Satheesan.

K.K. Rema, an independent legislator supported by the Congress-led UDF, whose husband, T.P. Chandrasekharan, was also murdered by CPI-M activists, condemned the party’s efforts to shield the accused.

“Observe how CPI-M hired expensive lawyers from Delhi to defend the case, spending over Rs 1 crore to protect the guilty,” Rema expressed.

AICC General Secretary and Alappuzha Congress Lok Sabha member K.C. Venugopal stated that the verdict reveals the true nature of CPI-M, which engages in eliminating political adversaries.

The defense counsel indicated that once the verdict documents are available, they will file an appeal.

The 10 individuals sentenced to double life imprisonment must each pay a fine of Rs 2 lakh, while the others are required to pay Rs 10,000, with all funds directed to the families of the victims.