Being targeted to tarnish CPM: Kerala leader

Kannur (Kerala): Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) leader P Jayarajan on Friday expressed surprise at his name being linked to the murder of former party colleague T.P. Chandrasekharan, and alleged this was a attempt by the ruling Congress to tarnish the party's image.

"I do not see this as a personal attack on me, instead this is a concerted move by a section of the media and the Congress-led United Democratic Front. This is being done to weaken the party in Kannur and its organisational structure," said Jayarajan, the party's Kannur district secretary and a former legislator. His reaction followed media reports which, without taking names, claimed that the murder would not have taken place without the knowledge of top party leaders in Kannur, especially a former legislator.

Chandrasekharan, a 51-year-old Revolutionary Marxist Party leader, was murdered on May 4 in Onchiyam in Kozhikode district, while he was returning home on a motorcycle. He had quit the CPM in 2008. Till Thursday, a total of 13 people, including five CPM party workers, have been arrested in the case.

P Jayarajan on Friday expressed surprise at his name being linked to the murder of CPM leader TP Chandrasekharan.

"It's federal minister Mulapally Ramachandran who has been leading the pack of those who have been demanding that our top party leaders should be named as accused in the case," said Jayarajan.

In a related development, another top CPM leader from Kannur and former legislator M.V.Jayarajan Friday held talks with the investigating officials at Badagara in Kozhikode and requested police to release Babu, a party activist from Kuthuparambu in Kannur, who has been picked up for interrogation. In Kuthuparambu, angry party workers marched to the police station to protest the move.

In the state capital, CPM state chief Pinarayi Vijayan, expressing displeasure at the manner in which the investigation is being handled, alleged Babu was badly beaten up by police. "They told Babu to say that a few leaders of our party are behind this incident. One particular police official, K.T. Rajmohan, a known sympathiser of the Congress, is particularly keen to frame the CPM, especially two senior party leaders. It must also be known that a police official - who did not dance to the tune of the government to tarnish our party - was asked if he cannot listen, then he can leave," he alleged.

He claimed the case appeared to proceed according to a "pre-written script" but assured that the party will inquire if the arrested had any links in this case. "If found that they have violated the rules of the party, then appropriate action will be taken," added Vijayan.

Meanwhile, state Home Minister T. Radhakrishnan said the investigation in the case is going on well and there is no need of a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.

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