State Police Chief Jacob Punnoose said here on Wednesday that the murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader T.P. Chandrasekharan on Friday night was a meticulously planned operation.
Speaking to the media at the Police Club here, he said the schemers and those who had overtly taken part in the execution had planned the killing few months in advance knowing the impact after the incident. “The police have identified the assailants but have no idea of the conspirators,” he said. Now the task was to identify these conspirators.
Chandrasekharan had no personal enemies. But there was one intention for hating him. The police suspected that the killing was for the personal gain for someone. He had a threat to his life and that had resulted in his killing, the State Police Chief added.
When asked whether it was a politically motivated case, Mr. Punnoose said the case could not be investigated pinpointing any particular party. “I do not want to name a political party. I have full confidence in the investigation team. The probe will be carried out in a comprehensive and impartial manner,” he said.
He said several persons had been taken into custody for interrogation. That was the usual procedure for investigation. The probe team would carry out investigations at various places, including Kozhikode and Vadakara.
The progress of the case and the persons in custody could not be disclosed to the media. Publicising them would affect the investigation.
Regarding the motive behind the crime, Mr. Punnoose said the police had got clear indications that killers had hostility towards Chandrasekharan. Several people had spoken about the threats to him. But he had not sought police protection although the Kozhikode Rural Superintendent of Police had taken steps in this regard.
The department would also examine whether he required such precautionary steps, he said.
Mr. Punnoose also visited volatile areas at Onchiyam and the house of Chandrasekharan. He also met K.K. Rema, wife of Chandrasekharan, at Nallacherry.
The DGP also held close-door meeting with Additional Director-General of Police (Crimes) Vinson M. Paul and other officers to review the progress of the case at Vadakara.
