THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The investigation into the sensational Periya double murder case is likely to get extended as the CBI probing the case has sought the extension of the infrastructural facilities provided by the state government in Kasaragod for six more months.
The government had in December last year allotted two rooms at the PWD rest house in Kasaragod to the CBI investigating team to set up its camp office. On July 9 this year, the head of the special crime branch unit of the agency in the capital which is probing the case, had written to the government seeking an extension of its camp office and accommodation facilities for six more months, or till the completion of the investigation, whichever is earlier.
Ever since the agency received a favourable verdict from the Supreme Court to go ahead with the investigation into the case on December 1 last year, it has been in full swing into the investigation of the case.
The agency sleuths had interrogated many, including the 11 accused in the case who are housed in central prison, Kannur, who are CPM activists and sympathisers. The agency, after launching the investigation into the murder of Youth Congress activists Sarathlal and Kripesh, had expanded the scope of investigation to several local leaders of the CPM, including Kanhangad block panchayat president K Manikandan.
The agency had conducted raids in the area committee office of the party in Uduma and the branch committee office in Kalliyot, and had seized several documents and also had recreated the murder of the two Youth Congress men at the incident site, as part of its investigation.
The state crime branch had filed the chargesheet in the case on May 20, 2019, against 14 accused persons under sections
143, 147, 148, 341, 326, 201, 212, 120B, 118and 302read with 149of the Indian Penal Code. However, the high court had pointed out several lapses on the part of the crime branch while handing over the case to the CBI.
As per a circular issued by the state home department in August 2014, the CBI will be provided rooms either at the PWD rest house or any other premises for operating its camp office as identified by the agency on a rent-free basis. This facility will be allowed for a maximum of six months at a stretch, which is extended further in case the agency demands. The agency will be offered other logistical support, including vehicles, for smooth probe of the case. The agency seeks such facilities on a case-to-case basis, in the geographical area where its probe is concentrated.
