Alappuzha murders: Two arrested over SDPI leader's death, NIA in the loop

Alappuzha: The Kerala Police on Monday said two people have been arrested in connection with the death of SDPI's K S Shan and claimed "substantial lead" in the investigation into the murder of BJP's OBC Morcha's Ranjith Sreenivas.

ADGP (Law and Order) Vijay Sakhare, who is heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the two separate cases, said two persons were arrested in connection with the killing of SDPI leader and efforts are on to nab those who killed the BJP leader.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that there were 10 accused in the killing of Shan on Saturday night.

While Prasad and Ratheesh were arrested in connection with the killing of the SDPI state secretary, eight other people involved in the crime have been identified and police teams deputed to nab them, the senior officer said.

Sakhare said Prasad allegedly organised men, vehicle and planned the killing.

Police are also probing if there was any larger conspiracy behind the killing of the SDPI leader.

Sakhare also spoke about the progress made in the investigation into the killing of BJP's OBC Morcha's state secretary Sreenivas, claiming "concrete clues" about the assailants.

He said the police have got a "substantial lead" about 12 people involved in the killing of Sreenivas. Their identities are being verified, the senior police official said.

Sakhare refused to provide more details but said "police are also probing if there was a larger conspiracy behind the killing and if it is established, the people who participated in it would also be brought before law."

Following the killing of the SDPI state secretary late Saturday night, BJP leader Sreenivas, a practicing lawyer, was hacked to death less than 12 hours later on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, state police chief Anil Kant on Monday directed his force to take precautionary measures in the wake of the recent incidents in Alappuzha.

"The entire police force of the state will be deployed for this. Police officers will be allowed leave only in emergency situations," a statement issued by the office of the state police chief said.

Kant has also directed police to tighten vehicle inspections day and night and set up necessary police pickets in problematic areas.

Anti-social elements wanted in connection with various offences will be nabbed, police said.

Prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 were imposed in Alappuzha district and additional police forces were deployed and senior officers camped there to monitor the law and order situation.

Ranjith Sreenivas's cremation was held at his ancestral home in the district on Monday evening.

Hundreds of people had gathered at his residence to pay their last respects.

An all-party meeting convened by the Alappuzha district Collector on Monday afternoon has been postponed to tomorrow after the BJP expressed inconvenience, official sources said.

Car traced

In a related development, the police have traced the car in which the assailants of Shan had travelled. Shan, who was riding a two-wheeler, was knocked down from the vehicle with this car before the assailants hacked him.

The police had obtained CCTV visuals of the incident and an investigation led to the tracing of the car and the arrest of two persons. The car was hired by a Prasad, a native of Mannanchery, ostensibly to go on a pilgrimage. 

Visuals of 12 persons riding six bikes to attack Ranjith too have been collected by the police. These visuals show that the assailants had arrived together to kill Ranjith and escaped in different directions after the crime. Unfortunately, neither the faces of the attackers nor the registration numbers of the bikes were clear in the CCTV footage. But as the make of the bikes could be identified, the police summoned some people using such models in the area and questioned them.

NIA in the loop

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to collect details about the double murder from the Kerala Police to examine any possible terrorism angle. BJP leaders have already alleged a terror link to the killing of the state secretary of the party’s OBC Morcha.

However, when contacted, NIA authorities said that no decision was taken so far on an investigation by them into the case. “We will intervene based on the facts unraveled by the Kerala Police,” said an NIA official.

Meanwhile, legal experts said that the charges to be invoked against the accused would be crucial. In the event of the accused being slapped with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), NIA could take over the case soon, they pointed out.

Presently, over 50 persons are in custody in both cases. 

At the same, the police are also probing whether the two latest murders have any connection with the killing of BJP activist Nandu Krishna at Vayalar in the district on February 24 this year. Details of the Nandu murder also have been sought by the NIA. Incidentally, all the accused in this case are SDPI workers. Moreover, the houses of some of these SDPI activists were attacked after Ranjith was killed.

Union Minister condemns law & order situation

Among those present at the cremation of Ranjith Sreenivas in Alappuzha was Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityananda Rai. He is learnt to have discussed the terrorism issue with the investigating officers. 

After paying homage to leader here today, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai alleged that the law and order system in Kerala has come to an end which is why killings over political differences are taking place in the state.

He asked the LDF government to prevent any further attacks against BJP leaders and workers.

UDF slams govt

Slamming the Left government, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan alleged that there is a serious situation where neither Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is holding the Home portfolio, nor the Chief of State Police has any control over the police force.

Stating that the double murder in Alappuzha was not a political killing but a communal murder, leader of opposition Satheesan alleged that the state government has failed to stop violent activities of "communal forces like the RSS and the SDPI in the state."

"If the Chief Minister tries to continue communal appeasement for temporary political gains, Kerala society will face serious repercussions," he said.

CPM issues statement

In a statement, the ruling CPI(M) alleged that the attacks and killings were "part of a conspiracy to disrupt peace" in the state.

The State's ruling CPI(M) demanded an immediate end to the brutal politics of mutual murder "perpetrated by two communal forces" to disrupt peace in the state.

"It is astonishing that the murderous forces themselves have come down to blame the LDF goverment over the issue," the CPI(M) state secretariat said in a statement.

Referring to BJP national president JP Nadda's statement yesterday that Kerala has become a lawless state, the CPI(M) said it underscores the saffron party's political objective.

It also alleged that the leaders of the BJP and the Congress were speaking in a similar voice to target the LDF government.

(With PTI inputs)