Shahjahan murder: 2 accused arrested; 8 BJP workers behind crime, claims friend

Palakkad: Two people have been arrested in connection with the murder of CPM local committee member Shahjahan at Malampuzha near here. One was directly involved in the commission of the crime and the other helped the former as per police sources. They are among the eight accused in the case.

Both of them were taken into custody by the police from different hideouts.

Shahjahan’s friend Suresh who was with him when the attack took place gave a statement to the police that eight BJP workers were behind the murder.

The FIR states that political factors led to the murder. However, the Palakkad District Police Chief’s first reaction was that it could not be termed a political murder at this stage.

A special police team has been constituted to probe the murder case under the supervision of Palakkad Deputy Superintendent of Police V K Raju.

The murder on the eve of Independence Day has triggered a political controversy with the CPM alleging RSS-BJP hands behind the crime, even as opposition parties and some top Left leaders refused to make such claims stating it was premature to conclude so.

Shahjahan, a CPM local committee member at Kunnangadu, was hacked to death by a bike-borne gang at Marutha Road.

The BJP has refuted the charges against its activists. BJP state general secretary C Krishnakumar on Monday said that CPM was spreading fake news that Shahjahan was killed by the RSS. Krishnakumar claimed Shahjahan has close connections with those like Arjun Ayanki whom he termed “CPM criminals.”