Kasargod twin murders: CPM on the back foot
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Kozhikode: As the LS polls are nearing, the unprecedented backlash following political violence in North Malabar has left CPM’s fingers burned.
The twin assassinations in Kasargod fell on the first death anniversary of Edayannoor Suhaib, Youth congress Mattanur block secretary.
Although CPM claims to have had no role in the Periya twin murders, society at large does not take it at face value.
Crime records bureau’s body count puts at 20 the total assassinations as Pinarayi government completes thousand days in office; as many as 9 murders in 2016, 5 in 2017, and 4 in 2018.
With Periya twin murders, the body count spikes to 20. CPM workers are facing charges in 14 murders of the list, while SDPI workers in 4 cases, and RSS in 2 murders.
Most of those assassinated were youths under thirty; Sarath Lal aka Joshi who was murdered in Kasargod the other day was just 24 years old, while his friend Kripesh was 21. Both were economically at grassroots.
The latest murders took place just days after CBI had charged criminal conspiracy against P Jayarajan, CPM Kannur district secretary, and lawmaker TV Rajesh in the Ariyil Shukoor murder case.
Murders of Shukoor, Suhaib, and Fazal left CPM unprecedentedly on the back foot in recent times. The three murders were committed for setting silly political scores. Except for trivial fracas, there was no strong provocation for the latest twin murders, many believe.
When assassinations went hay wire during the Pinarayi’s first year in power, CPM state committee directed leaders to hold conclaves at area levels in Kannur and Kasargod districts.
In the meetings, senior leaders directed workers to be more self-restraint. The party secretariat members participated in the meeting warned workers not to create hurdles before the government.
CPM’s second thoughts on violence stemmed from protests by BJP and RSS at CPM headquarters in Delhi and also the travel ban Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan faced in BJP-ruling states.
However, the resolution at the party conclave or brow-beating by leaders has made no change in the restive party workers, if the latest murders were any indication.
In CPM’s official estimation, hundreds of workers involving in criminal activities are in jail. The party look after their families, bearing huge financial burden.
