Kerala: Manilal’s was a political murder, says A Vijayaraghavan

KOLLAM: Despite the police team investigating the murder of homestay owner Manilal of Munroethuruth have rejected chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s and CPM’s claim of political enmity behind the murder, CPM state secretary A Vijayaraghavan reiterated that it was a political murder.
Visiting the family of Manilal along with CPM district leaders, the LDF convener rejected the claim by police that personal animosity was the reason for murder.
It was on December 6 night that Manial, the owner of ‘Mayoogham’ Homestay at Munroethuruth, was stabbed to death in front of the LDF booth committee office while he was actively involved in the campaign for LDF candidate. Thuppasseril Ashokan, another homestay owner, and an autorickshaw driver were arrested in this connection.
Vijayaraghavan is reiterating the CPM stand that once the investigation is over, their claim of political murder would be proved right.
Vijayaraghavan said Manilal, who returned from Gulf five years back, had started working actively for CPM ever since his return. He alleged that Manilal’s murder in a place where there was no political tension was the outcome of a conspiracy. He also pointed out that Manilal was the fifth CPM worker to be killed by BJP, RSP and Congress workers in the last four months.
However, it may be noted that the investigation officers have recorded in the FIR and remand report that the dispute over bringing tourists to their homestays led to the brawl and Ashokan stabbing Manilal to death. Ashokan was a former Delhi Police staffer.