The supplementary final chargesheet submitted by the CBI in the Kathiroor Manoj murder case describes the killing of Manoj on September 1, 2014 as a well-conspired and planned political murder.
The CBI claimed that Manoj was a target since 1997 for political reasons. While family members had been CPI(M) sympathisers and were in good relationship with Kannur district sectary P. Jayarajan, Manoj switched his political affiliation to the RSS in 1997.
Mr. Jayarajan had warned Manoj to rejoin the CPI(M) and threatened his mother and brother. At least two attempts were made in 1997 to eliminate him. Besides, Manoj was an accused in the attack on Mr. Jayarajan in 1999. After the BJP came to power at the Centre, many CPI(M) workers joined the BJP, which organised a function to welcome around 500 defectors in Kannur on August 24, 2014. “The dilution of the CPI(M) in Kannur district was a serious issue for P. Jayarajan as he is the district secretary. He wanted to eliminate the upcoming district-level leader of the RSS,” CBI sources said.
Mr. Jayarajan helped Vikraman, the first accused, organise killers, weapons, and bombs at the field level. The accused inflicted maximum injuries on Manoj’s body. When Pramod, who accompanied Manoj, attempted to come out of the car they were travelling on, the gang chased him away.
After the murder, Mr. Jayarajan conspired to provide treatment to Vikraman, who had sustained injuries in the bomb explosion. Vikraman was later shifted to the Payannur Cooperative Hospital, an institution under the CPI(M)’s control.
Will fight: Kodiyeri
CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the CBI’s decision to invoke UAPA against Mr. Jayarajan was an infringement on the State government’s authority. The Central government bid to bypass the State government and gave permission for imposing UAPA to hound the CPI(M) .
The CPI(M) would legally and politically fight the case, he said.