Kerala CM: Kasargod murders unfortunate, will take strong action against guilty

Describing the murder of two youth Congress workers in Kerala as "extremely unfortunate," Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan has said strict action will be taken against those found guilty.

The chief minister said in a statement on Facebook on Monday that the state's DGP has been instructed to arrest all the accused as early as possible.

Two persons were taken into custody on Monday in connection with an incident where two Youth Congress workers- Kripesh and Sarath Lal- were hacked to death in Peria in Kasargod on Sunday.

According to the Deputy Director of Kerala Police Information Centre, a special team has been formed under Kasaragod police chief A Sreenivasan to investigate the case with Kasaragod district crime branch Dy SP M Pradeep Kumar as chief investigator.

Kerala DGP Lokesh Behera has contacted Karnataka police for their help in conducting the probe and Karnataka police have offered all support.

On Monday, as a mark of protest against the murder of two of its workers, the Youth Congress observed statewide dawn to dusk bandh.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi condemned the killing and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

"The brutal murder of two members of our Youth Congress family in Kasargod, Kerala is shocking. The Congress Party stands in solidarity with the families of these two young men & I send them my deepest condolences. We will not rest till the murderers are brought to justice" he tweeted on Monday.

Soon after the death of Kripesh and Sarath, the Congress alleged that Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists were behind the attack in Peria.

"The CPM government is attempting to destroy Congress using party goons. The young Congress activists 24-year-old Sarath Lal and 19- year-old Kripesh were attacked without any provocation in the Peria region," Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here.

"They were not involved in criminal activities. It is part of a tradition of killing in Kasargod and Kannur zilla areas. The government should identify the culprits and arrest them as soon as possible," he added.