Four SDPI leaders taken into custody, released

Four top leaders of SDFI were taken into custody as part of a crackdown on activities of the outfit, whose members were allegedly involved in killing of an SFI leader at a college in Kochi early this month.

Social Democratic Party of India state president Abdul Majeed Faisi, vice president M K Manoj Kumar, state general secretary Roy Arackal and Ernakulam District president V K Shoukhath Ali were taken into custody when they came out of the Ernakulam Press Club here.

SDFI is the political offshoot of Popular Front of India.

The held a press conference here, giving their views on the killing of the SFI leader by a group, allegedly involving their sympathisers.

Two drivers of the SDPI state president and district president were also taken into custody this afternoon.

The SDPI leaders and their drivers were released later in the evening.

A large police contingent was present near the press club during their press conference.

The SDPI leaders were picked up a day after a Campus Front district leader, who was allegedly part of the group which killed SFI leader Abhimanyu, was arrested.

Adhil, a Campus Front Ernakulam district committee member from Aluva area, was arrrested yesterday from his home, police said.

Launching a state-wide crackdown on the activities of SDPI, PFI and Campus Front after the killing of Abhimanyu, police have taken their several workers into preventive custody.