KOLLAM: Rejecting the claim of the
CPM leadership and chief minister
Pinarayi Vijayan that
homestay owner
Manilal’s murder at
Munroethuruth
was a political murder, police noted in the
FIR
and the
remand report
that the murder was out of personal enmity.
On Sunday night, CPM activist R Manilal, 50, of Nidhi Palace, Villimangalam, and owner of Mayoogham Homestay was stabbed to death. Ashokan, 56, a former Delhi Police personnel, and auto driver Sathyan, 58, of Panikkathara house, who helped the accused escape from the spot, were arrested the same night and remanded the next day.
According to the FIR and remand report there was a running feud between Manilal and the accused Ashokan, of Thuppasseril, over tourists to the homestays owned by them. Ashokan had entered into an argument with Manilal on Sunday for bringing tourists from his homestay to ‘Mayoogham’ homestay.
Despite pressure from the CPM leadership and chief minister’s open statement that it was a political murder, police took the stand that there should be a comprehensive probe to find the reason behind the murder.
CPM district leadership had alleged that Ashokan was a RSS worker and was trained to kill people with a single stab. Rural SP R Ilango said further probe would be conducted to find whether the murder was a premeditated one or had any other reason, besides personal enmity.
CPM district secretary S Sudevan, however, said the fact would be out by the end of the investigation. BJP district president B B Gopakumar had claimed that both Manilal and Ashokan were CPM workers.
Meanwhile, investigation officer East Kallada inspector Mahesh said that statements of
Manilal
’s wife Renuka and daughter Nidhi were recorded. The statements of those present at the LDF booth committee office and its surroundings, family members of Ashokan and local BJP workers would be recorded soon. SP Ilango said investigation was on to find out whether there were more people involved in the conspiracy.
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