In the connection of murder of Indian Union Muslim League worker Abdul Shukoor in February, Kerala CPI-M leader P. Jayarajan was arrested and jailed today. Jayarajan who is the former legislator of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) was arrested in Kannur district after being summoned by police for questioning for the third time.
CPI-M has called a statewide shutdown against the arrest of Jayarajan who has said that he was framed by the government.
Soon after the arrest, angry party activists pelted stones at the police convoy taking Jayarajan to court.
Jayarajan said, "The Congress, the Muslim League and the police have all conspired to implicate me." he said.
CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was trying to unsettle the CPI-M by putting its leaders in jail.
"We are not going to be deterred by this. Tomorrow we have called a state-wide shutdown to protest this arrest and we expect all lovers of democracy to support us," said Vijayan.
Meanwhile chief minister Chandy denied that the arrest was linked to politics. "Police have been given a free hand to investigate the case and they are doing their job according to the law of the land," Chandy said.
The state government said that arrangements had been made to prevent untoward incidents during the CPI-M agitation Thursday.
It is noted that according to police sources, Shukoor was murdered in retaliation for an attack by suspected Muslim League workers on Jayarajan and CPI-M leader T.V. Rajesh in February last year.
The Muslim League is the second biggest constituent of the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front.
(With inputs from IANS)
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