Political fetters on probe team

Periye: Periye twin murder probe team is being reined in by political forces.  The newly constituted probe team comprises several office-bearers of Police Association which supports the left government.  Hence, discreet cryptic intervention into the probe is possible.

Government has restructured the probe team to rule out the twin murder becominga matter of campaign in the LS elections. Seven of the accused have been arrested so far.  The second and third accused may be taken into custody. The first probe team had revealed names of twelve CPM workers. Crime Branch SP Sabu Joseph is one of the members of the new probe team. Malappuram Crime Branch DySP P.M. Pradeem is also a member.

Number of DySPs in the team has now been reduced to one. Two DySPs were given charge of the probe as the case  involved two murders.  It was later decided that everything shall be passed through a single person. Pradeep was identified as the government's trusted officer. In addition to a CI in the team, one more is added to empower the team.

Neeleswaram CI Narayanan, V. Purushothaman of Crime Branch, Krishnakumar, Control Room SI Philip Thomas, Babu of District Crime Branch, O.T. Firos of Kasargode Crime Branch, Ramesan and Pradeepan of Kannur Crime Branch, Narayanan of Kasargode Control Room and Sumesh of Bakel are amongst them who hail from the district itself. Most of them are office bearers of Police Association and are seen as politically inclined to to the left government.

They were roped into the team to ensure that the party is kept away from the hassles.  Parents of Kripesh and Sarathlal, the two murdered in the incident, have given memorandum demanding CBI probe into the case to which the government's reply is still awaited.  However,  the government is least likely to concede the demand. If so, the bereaved parents may move the High Court for CBI probe.