Pathnamthitta police have arrested eight people in the murder of Jithin Shaji, a member of CITU and DYFI, in Perunadu near Madathimmoozhi.
Jithin, 36, was killed near Kochupalam on Sunday around 10 pm. Police named eight people in the FIR, including Nikhilesh, Vishnu, Sharon, Sumith, Maneesh, Aromal, Mithun and Akhil. All of them are from Perunadu.
Jithin's finger was severed and had several deep injuries, including on his stomach and thigh. He was taken to Perunad PHC and later to a private hospital in Pathanamthitta where he died.
Among these, Sharon, Aromal and Akhil have been taken into custody. Police said it was Vishnu who took a knife from his car and fatally stabbed Jithin following an altercation between the two groups. They said the motive was personal enmity and ruled out any political angle.
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However, CPI(M) District Secretary Raju Abraham accused BJP and RSS workers of murdering Jithin, adding that it was a planned killing as the attackers came with weapons.
The CPI(M) State Secretariat alleged that the BJP is trying to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the country, adding that those involved in the murder, including Vishnu, are part of BJP's criminal gang.
But BJP district president VA Suraj rejected the allegations, saying not party member was involved in the killing. BJP pointed out that the prime accused, Nikhilesh, is a member of CITU, while the fourth accused, Sumit, is a member of DYFI.
