Kasaragod: The police have recovered the weapons allegedly used to carry out the twin murders of Youth Congress activists at Periya on Sunday. A local court has sent CPM local committee member and the prime accused, A Peethambaran, to police custody for seven days.
The police informed the court that more people are likely to be involved the crime.
The weapons found included a chopper used to hack the victims and iron rods with which the slain men - Kripesh and Sharathlal - were beaten up. All the weapons were identified by the accused.
Peethambaran was arrested by the police on Tuesday. A six-member gang that used to intervene in local issues on his behalf is also in custody. Members of the gang had told the police that the murders were carried out by Peethambaran along with the two persons in custody.
Peethambaran had reportedly admitted in a written statement that he committed the crime with the support of two others in custody.
Earlier Peethambaran's mother Thambayi, wife Manju and daughter Devika said that he would not dare to attempt such a major crime without the knowledge of the party.
“There might have been some local issues or scuffle earlier, but he (Peethambaran) is innocent. He is now confessing for someone else,” said Thambayi.
According to the police, it was a local gang that was behind the crime and no ‘quotation team’ (contract killers) was involved.
Kripesh and Sharathlal were hacked to death on Sunday. Sharathlal was an accused in an assault on Peethambaran.
