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Updated: May 31, 2017 16:56 IST

Three Youth Congress leaders suspended from the party for slaughtering a calf in public in Kerala have expressed regret for their action, but accused rival BJP and CPIM supporters of more heinous crimes including murder.

“We admit it was a big mistake. And we are ready to suffer for it. But at the same people should be aware of those who lynch poor in the name of keeping beef and execute their opponents in broad daylight,” Rijil Makutty told HT on Tuesday.

Makutty, Josey Kandathil andK Sharafuddin slaughtered a calf in Kannur last weekend in protest against Centre’s decision to impose new restrictions on the trade of cattle meant for slaughter, triggering nationwide outrage.

Read more | Kerala cow slaughter: Congress distances itself, Rahul Gandhi says it’s ‘barbaric, thoughtless’

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi dubbed their protest as “thoughtless and barbaric”.

What happened in Kerala yesterday is thoughtless,barbaric& completely unacceptable to me &the Congress Party.I strongly condemn the incident — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) May 28, 2017

“It was an instant reaction. We apologise to those who are really pained over our action. It is sad it brought enough damage to the party,” said Josy Kandathil, the Youth Congress state secretary.

But the three said those criticizing them also included people who killed political opponents publicly. “At times after barging into their opponents’ home, they stab rivals before their relatives. People are yet to forget 51 stab wounds on TP Chandrasekharan,” Rejil said, referring to the killing of a rebel CPIM leader in 2012.

Kannur in north Kerala has been the site of unremitting violence between the CPI(M) and RSS with both sides accused of tit-for-tat killings.

Rejil had unsuccessfully contested against CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in 2011 from Thalasserry constituency, after being handpicked by Gandhi. All three were student leaders and are known to be close to former MP K Sudhakaran.

They said it was their urge to do “something different” to register their protest landed them in trouble. They dismissed the idea of holding a beef festival as it had become too common.

The three said they had procured the calf from an abattoir and had got its butcher to accompany them. “The professional butcher did the job. Many are spreading canards we slaughtered the calf,” Rejil added.