CPI (M) man accused of killing BJP workers made branch secretary, he is innocent claims party

S Jayakumar, who has already spent 6 months in jail for allegedly burning down BJP worker’s house, has been made the branch secretary.

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S Jayakumar, a CPM worker, who is the first accused in a BJP worker’s murder, was made a branch secretary of the party on Monday. He was given the party post in a branch meeting conducted in Kanchikode, Palakkad. S Jayakumar is reportedly involved in six other cases.

S. Jayakumar is the first accused in the murder of BJP workers Radhakrishnan and Vimaladevi, who died in 2016. The incident took place on 28 December 2016.

The accused S Jayakumar and his colleagues set bikes that were parked in front of Radhakrishnan’s house on fire. The fire then spread to a gas cylinder kept near the bike and burnt down the entire house. Radhakrishnan and his sister-in-law Vimaladevi succumbed to their injuries. A total of six CPI (M) workers are accused of Radhakrishnan’s and Vimaladevi’s murder.

CPI(M) leaders termed the incident as unfortunate and accidental. M B Rajesh, a CPI(M) MP from Palakkad said that S Jayakumar is wrongly accused, and that Radhakrishnan’s murder wasn’t planned.

“S Jayakumar is wrongly accused in the case. He hasn’t committed the crime. Even BJP has said that Jayakumar is not involved in the case. He was implied in the case only because he is a CPI(M) party worker. Radhakrishnan’s and Vimaladevi’s murder was accidental. It is unfortunate but wasn’t a planned political murder. We condemn violence in politics though. As a party, we have left the case and investigation to the Kerala Police.”

The BJP, on the other hand, said that S Jayakumar has been accused in the case by Pinarayi Vijayan’s police and that he is involved in the case. Adv E Krishnadas, BJP Palakkad District President criticized the CPI(M)’s act as undemocratic.

“This is a very shocking incident. S Jayakumar is the first accused in Radhakrishnan and Vimaladevi murder case. CPI(M) has made a party worker who is accused in a murder case its branch secretary. This is against all the democratic norms known in this country. We have never said S Jayakumar is not the accused. It’s Pinarayi’s police that has accused Jayakumar in the murder case. The truth will out one day.”