Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 16 (IANS): The Congress in Kerala on Friday asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to break his silence on the brutal murder of a Youth Congress worker by suspected CPI-M men in Kannur.
The Youth Congress worker, Shoaib, 30, was allegedly stabbed 48 times, on Monday night.
The Kannur Congress unit blamed the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists for the murder. The CPI-M leadership has, however, denied any link with the killing.
Speaking to the media here, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala who reached here after visiting Shoaib's home, said "it has been four days since the ghastly incident took place and till now, Vijayan has not spoken a word and no one has been taken into custody".
"He reacts to anything and everything either at the assembly or otherwise but on this brutal murder which took place just 10 km away from his home, he is yet to utter a word," said Chennithala.
"This clearly shows that he has something to hide and we all suspect that the police are waiting for the CPI-M to produce 'dummies' as the accused, which has always been the practice of the party," he said.
He said this is the 22nd murder that has taken place in Kannur since Vijayan assumed office and he has turned Kannur into a 'red terror' area.
"It took 90 minutes for police to start their work after the incident took place and this was meant to allow a safe passage to the accused," said Chennithala.
Shoaib was waiting in front of an eatery near Mattanoor around 10.45 p.m on Monday when four persons came in a car and hurled bombs to create a panic situation. They then slashed him with a sword.
Shoaib's friend, who also suffered a slash, told the media that Shoaib was 'butchered'.
"On February 22, the entire top leadership of our party would be in Kannur and we have decided to take up the responsibility of taking care of Shoaib's family which includes his parents and three sisters. We will be organising a fund drive," said Chennithala.
He also said the party will stand with the decision of the Kannur district Congress committee if they seek a CBI probe into the murder.