Thiruvananthapuram: The two DYFI workers, who were brutally hacked to death late on Sunday, were attacked by five armed men, CCTV visuals from the vicinity reveal.
The visuals, obtained by Manorama News, show ten people in the area. Of them, a group of five armed with knives and machetes are seen attacking the victims.
DYFI workers Mithilaj, 32, of Ozhivupara near Vembayam and Haque Mohammad, 28, a resident of Kalunkinmukham, were attacked using sharp-edged weapons at Thempammoodu in Venjaramoodu in Thiruvananthapuram district at around 11:30pm. While Shahin, who was with them, escaped with minor injuries.
While Mithilaj died on the spot, Muhammed lost his life while being taken to the hospital. Their bodies have now been shifted to the Medical College mortuary.
The DYFI workers were attacked while they were going to Mithilaj's home on a motorbike, police said.
The CPI(M) and the DYFI alleged that Congress workers were behind the attack on their activists on the eve of Thiruvonam day.
Thiruvananthapuram range DIG of police Sanjay Kumar Gurudin said that the CCTV visuals would be inspected. However, he did not confirm if political motives were behind the murders. “The attackers and the victims were known to each other. All aspects of the case will be investigated and a special team has been formed for the purpose,” he said.
CM condemns incident
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condemned the killing of two DYFI activists at Venjarammoodu. In a social media post, the Chief Minister said that directives have been issued to the police to conduct a comprehensive probe into the incident.
Four in custody, knife recovered
The police have taken four persons into custody in connection with the case. Officers also recovered a knife reportedly carried by the assailants and two bikes used by them.
While the two-wheelers were seized from the house of Madapuram native Sanal, the knife was found at the crime scene.
The police had earlier taken into custody Sajith, who the CPI(M) alleged was the main conspirator. DYFI workers also surrounded the police jeep in which Sajith was taken.
Police officers indicated that a dispute that arose during the Lok Sabha elections had led to the murders. According to the DySP, Attingal, five assailants were involved. “Two of them are accused in a case related to the attempt on the life of a DYFI activist in last May. They had secured bail a month ago. There was a skirmish in the area during the last phase of Lok Sabha election campaigning which escalated into the murders,” he added.
CPI(M) alleges conspiracy
CPI(M) state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged a high-level conspiracy by Congress leadership behind the attack.
"It is a planned murder. The top leadership of the Congress has a role in it," Balakrishnan alleged.
The party will observe a 'black day' on September 2 in protest against the "brutal killing" of the DYFI workers, he said.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the Congress had no role in the killings.
"The Congress is not a party of assailants. We don't encourage goons in our party," he said.
The senior Congress leader alleged a "false propaganda" had been unleashed by the state government to blame his party.
"The effort by a government, which has lost face due to its misdeeds, to malign the Congress will not succeed," he told reporters.
Terming it a "heinous attack", CPI(M) state secretariat member K N Balagopal alleged the Congress leadership was responsible for the killing of DYFI activists. "Two DYFI workers were brutally killed on the eve of Thiruvonam day. It is evident that the Congress, instead of encouraging democratic discourse, is encouraging violence against CPI(M)-DYFI workers in the state. We strongly condemn this heinous attack on DYFI activists," Balagopal said.
Meanwhile, Workers of the Youth Congress and the DYFI clashed in front of the Public Service Commission office at Pattom here.
The clash erupted when a march by DYFI activists against the killings passed the PSC office where Youth Congress workers were protesting cancellation of a rank list.
The police removed Youth Congress workers including its leaders and Congress MLAs Shafi Parambil and K S Sabarinathan following the clashes between the two groups.
