Periya double murder: Victims' family protests mass parole, seeks audience with Chief Minister

KANHANGAD: The families of the victims in the 2019 Periya double murder case have strongly objected to the state government's decision to grant a blanket parole to five convicts. Speaking to the press, Sathyanarayanan, the father of slain Youth Congress activist Sarath Lal, announced plans to meet with the Chief Minister and the Home Minister to register their formal protest. The family is demanding the immediate transfer of the convicts to a high-security prison and a deeper probe into the wider conspiracy behind the killings.

The 20-day parole was sanctioned for key convicts, including prime accused Peethambaran, alongside Anil (fourth accused), Gijin (fifth accused), Ashwin (sixth accused), and Vishnu Sura (fifteenth accused). Observers note that the relief was cleared by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) administration just ahead of its upcoming transition from office. While the convicts are currently staying within the Kasaragod district, local authorities have imposed stringent bail conditions. Notably, they are strictly prohibited from entering the jurisdiction of the Bekal Police Station, under which the families of the deceased reside.

The case dates back to February 17, 2019, when Youth Congress workers Kripesh and Sarath Lal were hacked to death at Kalliyot in Periya, Kasaragod. Following a high-profile investigation, a special CBI court found the accused—all local CPI(M) workers—guilty and sentenced them to double life imprisonment. This is not the first time executive clemency for these convicts has drawn fire; previous parole orders in the same case have routinely triggered intense political standoffs in the state.