Cong leaders begin fast, seek ‘impartial’ inquiry

: The Congress Monday stepped up its protests against the ruling CPI(M) over the killing of its party functionary in Kannur, even as the ruling communist party in Kerala maintained that it had no connection with the incident.

State Youth Congress president Deen Kuriakose launched an indefinite ‘satyagraha’ stir in front of the Secretariat here seeking a thorough probe into the killing of Shuhaib, the Mattanur block Youth Congress secretary, in Kannur on February 13.

Leader of Opposition in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala demanded an impartial inquiry into the killing and asked the state government to bring all the accused to book.

Chennithala said both “red and saffron terror” have to be opposed with the same intensity. He alleged that the “silence” of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other CPI(M) leaders has led to the current situation.

In Kannur, Congress leader and former Lok Sabha MP K Sudhakaran started a 48-hour fast in front of the collectorate.

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the party has no connection with the killing. Kerala DGP Loknath Behra said a Special Investigation Team led by I G Mahipal Yadav would investigate the murder.

Two persons, said to be CPI(M) workers, were arrested after they surrendered Sunday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM