CPI-M leader held for Kerala murder

Kozhikode, May 16 (IANS) A CPI-M leader in Kerala was arrested here Wednesday after he allegedly admitted that he had former party colleague T.P. Chandrasekharan murdered for "personal reasons".

According to police, K.C. Ramachandran, the sixth suspect to be arrested in the case, admitted that he had paid Rs.50,000 to the killer gang.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist defended Ramachandran. Acting Kozhikode CPI-M district secretary N. Bhaskaran said: "We do not think he will do such a thing."

But the dead man's widow, K.K. Rema, demanded that all the conspirators behind the May 4 killing should be brought to book.

She told reporters here that the murder must have been plotted by the CPI-M.

"Only local leaders of CPI-M have been arrested but that is not enough because the top leaders of the party are behind this and they also should be booked," said Rema, a bank employee.

"I am happy the way the investigations are going on," she added.

Chandrasekharan, 51, was murdered in Onchiyam near here while returning home on a motorcycle.

He was a CPI-M leader in the area till 2008. He quit the party and formed the Revolutionary Marxist Party, which unseated the CPI-M in the village council polls in Onchiyam.

In Thirivananthapuram, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the guilty would not be spared.

"None will be spared, irrespective of who (they are) and what their position is," he said.

Five others arrested a day earlier for their suspected involvement in the murder were presented before a court near here Wednesday.

The judge sent one of them, from the CPI-M, to 14 days judicial custody, while the other four were sent to four days police custody.