Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)
Kasargod, Sep 12: CPM activist, Venattenteveetil Vikraman (42) from Kathiroor, who is the main accused in the murder of K Manoj, functioning as district Shareerik Shiksha Pramukh of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Kannur unit, surrendered before the judicial first class magistrate court 2 in Kannur on Thursday September 11. He was accompanied by Vishwan, an advocate who usually represents cases relating to CPM.
On September 1, RSS leader, Manoj, who was travelling in a Maruti Omni vehicle, was murdered by hurling crude bombs at his vehicle and then hacking him to death. It is learnt that Vikraman is a member of CPM Kiyakke Kathiroor west branch. He was earlier working as a body guard for a CPM leader, and had gone abroad after the murder of T P Chandrashekharan.
RSS activist, Pramod, who was with Manoj at the time of this murder, is being treated in a hospital. He is the eyewitness to this gory murder.
The Kerala government had decided on September 6 to hand over investigation into this murder tto Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the investigating team has already taken several local CPM leaders into custody and questioning them. Vikraman, in the meanwhile, has surrendered in the court.
It is learnt that the court has remanded Vikraman to police custody till September 25, with instructions to the investigating officers to file a detailed report on the investigation with the court. The police had launched a manhunt for Vikraman immediately after the murder, but he had reportedly gone into hiding with help from some influential persons.
Informed sources in police claimed that Vikraman was hiding in villages where the CPI-M enjoys very strong support but Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leaders alleged that Vikraman's surrender was stage managed by police and the CPI-M.
Meanwhile the state leadership of the CPI-M informed the party national leadership at the two- day politburo meeting which began in Delhi Thursday that the party has no role in this episode.
But the police probe team has already served notices to a few local CPI-M leaders to appear before them. On Wednesday, one party leader appeared before them but was let off after a few hours.