Kochi: AK Balan, member of the CPM Central Committee, stated on Sunday that the party had no involvement in the Periya murder case. "The murders were carried out without the knowledge of the party's senior leadership," he explained.

Balan also defended the police investigation into the case, saying, "The police took a firm stance from the outset. The CBI merely continued the investigation handed over by the Kerala Police. The law will follow its course."

In response to Congress' allegation that the CPM is a party of murderers, Balan retorted, "It is well known that the Congress is the party of murderers. The double murder in Thrissur is clear evidence. The whole state witnessed how a Congress worker showed no hesitation in hacking a fellow party member to death. Yet, it is this same Congress that accuses the CPM of being a party of murderers," Balan added.

A CBI court on Saturday found 14 accused, including a CPM former MLA, guilty in the murder of two Youth Congress workers, Kripesh and Sarathlal, at Periya in Kasaragod five years ago.

Of the 24 accused, the court found the first eight accused guilty of murder and conspiracy charges and another six guilty of conspiracy, destruction of evidence and assisting in operating the crime, while the remaining 10 accused have been acquitted in the case.

The court will pronounce the sentence on January 3. The case pertains to the murder of Youth Congress workers Kripesh, 19, and Sarath Lal P K, 24, allegedly by CPM workers on February 17, 2019.