Three CPI-M workers held for Kerala leader's murder

Kozhikode, May 17 (IANS) Three Communist Party of India-Marxist members were arrested Thursday for their involvement in the murder of former party leader T.P. Chandrasekharan, Kerala Police said. With this, the number of arrests in the case has reached 13, with five from the CPI-M.

The three party workers were held in Kannur district, police said.

A day ago, police had arrested CPI-M leader K.C. Ramachandran who allegedly admitted that he had Chandrasekharan murdered for "personal reasons". He has been remanded in a 14-day custody.

Chandrasekharan, a 51-year-old Revolutionary Marxist Party leader, was murdered May 4 in Onchiyam, near here, while he was returning home on a motorcycle. He had quit the CPI-M in 2008.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress party held a 12-hour sit-in in Badagara to protest the murder.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who was present at the protest site, said Chandrasekharan appeared to be more powerful now than when he was alive.

"Investigation is progressing in the right direction and this incident should be the last violent political activity in the state," he said.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Mulapally Ramachandran said so far, only the "small fishes" had been caught for the murder.

State Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala asked CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat to speak on the issue.

Writer M. Mukundan said such incidents should never take place in a civilised society.