The Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP)’s Onchiyam area secretary N. Venu has said the CPI(M) is using diversionary tactics to hide the fact that the witnesses in the T.P. Chandrasekharan murder case are turning hostile under the party’s pressure.
Speaking to The Hindu after the T.P. martyr’s column at Vadakara was found damaged on Sunday, he said it was clear that the CPI(M) was involved in the incident.
“It should be noted that such an incident is happening when preparations are on to conduct the first death anniversary of T.P. Chandrasekharan next month. The CPI(M) wants to disrupt these plans. Also, trial proceedings in the murder case are going through a vital period where key witnesses are turning hostile. The party had coerced them by death threats to shift from their stand. Those involved in the murder plot had planned the attack on the memorial too,” said Mr. Venu.
The memorial column was erected at the Vallikkad junction in Vadakara where Chandrasekharan was killed on May 4, 2012. The column was found damaged early on Sunday, following which RMP activists took out a march through the town. Stones were allegedly thrown at the protesters following which the march turned violent.
Security in the area was stepped up following the incidents. Kozhikode Rural SP T.K. Rajmohan said the police were on the lookout for two persons for vandalising the martyr’s column.