CBI Court Sentences 10 to Life Imprisonment in Periya Twin Murder Case
In a significant judgment, a CBI court sentenced 10 individuals to life imprisonment and four others to five years in prison for the politically motivated murders of two Youth Congress workers in Periya, Kasaragod district, five years ago.
The court delivered its verdict on Friday, sentencing the 10 individuals to life imprisonment for murder and criminal conspiracy under Sections 302, 120(b) read with 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These sentences will be served concurrently. The four others, including former CPI(M) MLA K.V. Kunhiraman, were sentenced to five years in prison for their roles in the case.
The case relates to the brutal murders of Kripesh (19) and Sarath Lal P.K. (24), Youth Congress workers, on February 17, 2019. According to the prosecution, the twin killings were the result of escalating political violence and retaliation between workers of the CPI(M) and Congress in the region.
The 10 individuals receiving life imprisonment are:
- A. Peethambaran, a former CPI(M) Periya local committee member
- Suresh
- Saji George
- Anilkumar
- Jijin
- Sreerag
- Aswin
- Sudheesh
- Renjith
- Surendran
These individuals were found guilty of murder and criminal conspiracy. The court imposed a fine of ₹2 lakh on each convict.
In addition, four others — former CPI(M) MLA and district leader K.V. Kunhiraman, Kanhangad block panchayat president K. Manikandan, Velutholi Raghavan, and A.V. Bhaskaran — received five-year prison sentences. They were convicted of conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and aiding in the crime.
During the trial, the court examined 24 accused individuals. Of these, eight were convicted of murder and conspiracy, six were found guilty of conspiracy and related offenses, and 10 were acquitted.
The prosecutor highlighted that the sentences for the 10 individuals convicted of murder were handed down under two separate charges — murder and criminal conspiracy — but would run concurrently.
The court’s judgment brought partial closure to the families of Kripesh and Sarath Lal, who were brutally murdered in what was described as a politically motivated act of violence. The murders underscored the ongoing tensions and political rivalry between CPI(M) and Congress workers in the region.
The case gained widespread attention due to its political implications and the involvement of several CPI(M) leaders, including former MLA K.V. Kunhiraman. The CBI took over the investigation following allegations of a lack of impartiality in the local police inquiry.
The verdict is seen as a stern message against politically motivated violence in Kerala, which has witnessed several such incidents over the years. The court’s decision to sentence the accused to life imprisonment and impose substantial fines reflects the gravity of the crime and its impact on the victims’ families and the community.
With this judgment, the victims’ families hope for justice and an end to the cycle of violence fueled by political rivalry in the region.
