The investigation into the murder of young Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) activist Abdul Shukkoor at Keezhara in the Kannapuram police station limits here on February 20 is all set to become a politically sensitive issue in the wake of the disclosure that the killing involved an impromptu trial by a ‘party court' of local leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) here.
The murder followed a bout of violence in nearby Ariyil, near Taliparamba, in the aftermath of an attack on CPI(M) district secretary P. Jayarajan and T.V. Rajesh, MLA, earlier that day.
The details being unearthed by the police team investigating into the murder of Shukkoor have already triggered a war of words between the CPI(M) and IUML/United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders here. The probe, supported by disclosures of key witnesses to the incident, pointed to the involvement of a ‘mock trial' by CPI(M) workers after Shukkoor and his party colleague Zakkaria had been captured by CPI(M) workers from a house at Keezhara.
According to the police, there was a gap of over two hours after the duo was captured and Shukkoor was stabbed to death once the captors, allegedly CPI(M) workers, confirmed that the captured were involved in the attack on the CPI(M) leaders at Ariyil.
It has been alleged that CPI(M) workers who captured the two had transferred their photos taken on mobile phones via multi-media message service to get the confirmation.
While the IUML and UDF leadership here demanded an independent investigation to nab all those involved in the murder, the CPI(M) alleged that the Chief Minister's office was behind the propaganda that Shukkoor had been ‘executed' by a party court.
A delegation of UDF district leaders led by district chairman Sunny Joseph, MLA, who visited Shukkoor's house at Ariyil on Saturday and met party workers injured in the attack, alleged that the CPI(M) leadership was reacting intolerantly to widespread outrage against the killing. Mr. Joseph said that Shukkoor's brother, Dawood, a journalist working for Chandrika daily, told the delegation that he had been contacted several times by Shukkoor asking him to do something to save his life.
Shukkoor and four others including Zakkaria had taken refuge in the house of one Muhammad Kunhi that day when they realised that they were being chased, Mr. Joseph said, adding that the house owner had been forced to ask the five IUML workers to leave the house when a mob of CPI(M) workers surrounded the house and threatened him.
After their capture, three of them had been freed, while the captors continued to hold Shukkoor and Zakkaria as they waited for the confirmation and the completion of the ‘trial process' by local CPI(M) workers. Some local CPI(M) leaders had been contacted by party workers for reporting the progress of the ‘trial', the MLA said.
Terming the murder barbaric, Mr. Joseph said that the CPI(M) was now trying to present the murder as something that happened during clashes between rival parties. The facts would be unravelled by examining the phone calls from Shukkoor and the house of Muhammad Kunhi where the IUML workers had taken refuge.
As the IUML and the UDF have been trying to mobilise public outrage against the killing of the young leader, the CPI(M) has also initiated steps to bring the issue into the public. The CPI(M) on Saturday organised a dharna by victims of what it called IUML-sponsored violence in and around Taliparamba. The dharna was inaugurated by writer P. Valsala. Mr. Jayarajan said that the violence at Ariyil had not escalated thanks to the restraint shown by CPI(M) leaders.
