Nadapuram in Kerala tense after murder of Muslim League worker

Nadapuram, the sensitive town that witnessed numerous political murders in the past, is tense again after the murder of IUML worker on Friday.
The diseased IUML worker was an accused in the murder of a DYFI worker. But he had been acquitted in the case.
The murder on Friday is widely considered to be a revenge killing.

Murder acquit Muslim League worker hacked to death in Kozhikode

Efforts are on to douse a possible flare-up of violence in Nadapuram, the sensitive northern Kerala town notorious for its long-standing rivalry between the Muslim-league and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) after the murder of a league worker on Friday night. The town and surrounding areas in Kozhikode district remain tense after the gruesome murder of Mohammed Aslam, 20, who was hacked to death by an unidentified gang.

The district administration convened an all-party peace meeting on Sunday and decided to take measures to maintain order in the area. The police force is keeping vigil in Nadapuram and surrounding areas, and prohibitory orders are in place at Vadakara, Edacherry, Nadappuram, Valayam and Kuttiyadi.

Also read: All accused walk free in sensational murder of CPM activist in Kerala

Aslam was an accused in the murder of Shibin, an activist of DYFI, the youth wing of the CPM, in January 2015. But a trial court had acquitted all the accused in the case in June this year, much to the disappointment of the CPM.

Aslam was travelling on his motorbike on Friday evening when a gang chased him down in a car and hit his vehicle before striking him. The assailants hacked him several times, inflicting more than 60 cuts in his body, including 13 on his face alone.

The IUML alleged that the CPM was behind the murder and observed hartal in the area on Saturday.

Shibin, 19, was murdered on January 22, 2015, triggering a riotous situation in Nadapuram. As many as 70 houses belonging to IUML workers had come under attack after the incident. Many houses were set afire and properties destroyed as violent gangs went on a rampage for days on.

On June 15 this year, 17 accused in the murder case including Aslam, who was the third accused, were acquitted by Kozhikode Special Additional Sessions Court.

Meanwhile, the police have identified the vehicle used by the assailants of Aslam.

Last Updated Mar 31, 2018, 7:02 PM IST