Marxist leader's murder at Onchiyam a contract job

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As the political who’s who and thousands of mourners bid adieu to the Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T. P. Chandrasekharan, 50, the police closed in on the gang that brutally assassinated him at Onchiyam on Friday night.

The police has taken into custody five people who provided logistical support for the killing. The police, however, has identified only three suspects – Naveen Das, Rejeesh and Harris.

Naveen Das is the owner of car rental services. According to the police the Innova car used by the killer gang was rented out by Rejeesh and Harris from Naveen Das.

Chief minister Oommen Chandy and opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan led thousands of mourners at Kozhikode Town Hall. As the flower-decked vehicle with the body of Chandrasekharan reached Town Hall in the afternoon, people raised slogans denouncing the politics of murder and hate.

Notably no CPI (M) leader, barring Achuthanandan, turned up at to bid farewell to their ex-comrade. Chandrasekharan had left the CPI (M) four years ago fed up with his party bosses detracting from the revolutionary trail of Onchiyam martyrs.

The police team has identified the seven-member gang of contract killers but remained tight-lipped. The team has apparently gathered enough leads to confirm that the brutal killing was the result of a well-planned conspiracy by Chandrasekharan’s political rivals.

“The investigation is progressing and it is too early to divulge further details”, Kozhikode Rural SP T.K. Rajmohan told DC.

So far, there was no evidence to link the political leadership at the state level with the murder, a source said.

The team is also probing the veracity of reports that the killing was to preempt the return of Chandrasekharan and followers to CPI (M).

There are unconfirmed reports that the CPI (M) bosses’ move to bring back Chandrasekharan and followers irked a section of the local leadership of
the party.

Gang suspected
* Chandrasekharan axed to death between 10.45 p.m. and 11 p.m., near the League House in Vallikkadu. He was on his way home on his two-wheeler.
* A golden Innova car, with seven men inside, came from behind and knocked him down. The men hack him using swords and axes. Post-mortem report said that there were more than 50 deep cuts and the face was disfigured beyond recognition.
* Two bombs were hurled to create a scare and in the melee the killers escaped.
* Cops and people rush the leader to the Vadakara Taluk hospital where he was declared dead. From there his body was taken to medical college hospital.