Suspects in custody for murder of DYFI worker

A DYFI member was hacked to death at Kanhangad in Kasaragod district of Kerala on Wednesday night. The CPIM alleged that the murder was committed by IUML workers after losing their seat to CPIM.

Kasaragod (Kerala): Auf Abdul Rahman, aged 30, associated with the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), was hacked to death at Kanhangad in Kasaragod district of Kerala on Wednesday night.

Amid allegations pointing to another case of political violence in the Northern district of Kerala. District Police Chief D Shilpa, after visiting the crime scene, confirmed to the media that clashes have happened between the two groups here. She said the investigation is underway. However, it is too early to state anything conclusive.

The CPIM alleged that the murder was done by IUML workers in a rage after losing their sitting seat to CPIM, in Auf Abdul Rahman’s ward, in the recent local body polls. Auf’s works as a DYFI member is said to have helped the CPIM win the sitting IUML ward.

One of the accused has been taken into custody, while another one who is in the hospital is under police surveillance, the officer clarified. Irshad, an IUML worker who is in the hospital after being wounded from the clash, has only minor injuries, said Superintendent of Police.

Earlier, the dog squad had reached carried out an examination at the scene of the crime. The dogs reached near a mosque close by, after sniffing the iron rod used to attack Auf Abdul Rahman, the spectacles picked from the crime scene, and the spot where there was a pool of blood.

SP Shilpa said the police is probing whether there were more than three members involved in the gang which attacked Auf Abdul Rahman. Police have booked three persons in the incident. More details will be known only after a preliminary round of investigation, the SP added.

Meanwhile, Auf’s dead body was handed over and taken to his home town after completing the post mortem procedures at Kannur Pariyaram Medical College Hospital on Thursday afternoon, by 3.30 pm. Auf was attacked at Kalluravi Mundathodu in Kanhangad around 10.30 at night.

Religious leaders and many politicians including CPIM leaders - M V Govindan Master, P Jayarajan, T V Rajesh, M V Jayarajan, M V Balakrishnan Master - received Auf’s mortal remains after the postmortem. Auf’s body was taken to Kasaragod escorted by a convoy of vehicles from Pariyaram.