The United Democratic Front (UDF) has taken strong exception to the shifting of some officers from the Crime Branch team, including the Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch), that has been probing the murder of two Youth Congress workers Kripesh and Sarath Lal at Periya in Kasaragod on February 17.
The investigation will now be led by SP Sabu Mathew. V.M. Muhammad Rafeeq, SP (Crime Branch), who was replaced as the head of the probe team, will continue in the team.
Deputy Superintendent of Police C.K. Sunil Kumar and Circle Inspector Ramesan, who are part of the team, have also been shifted.
The UDF alleged that the officers were shifted as part of a conspiracy to subvert the probe when it was leading towards the alleged involvement of the CPI(M) leadership.
Inaugurating a fund-collection drive to help the families of the murdered youth in Kasaragod on Saturday, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the CPI(M) was trying to divert the investigation.
The team members had been changed to protect the real culprits, he said adding that the government was trying to help the accused.
IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty said the decision to shift the SP was to sabotage the probe.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran, working presidents K. Sudhakaran, Kodikkunni Suresh, IUML State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed, E.T. Muhammad Basheer, MP, M.K. Muneer, MLA, K. Muaraleedharan, MLA, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, MLA, CMP leader C.P. John and other UDF leaders led the drive at various parts of the district.