Former branch committee member held in murder of CPM leader, hartal in Koyilandy today

KOZHIKODE: A hartal is being observed in Koyilandy in protest against the murder of CPM leader. P V Sathyanathan (62), central local secretary of Koyilandy was hacked to death last night during temple festival. Abhilash, former branch committee member of CPM and neighbor of Sathyanathan, has been arrested in the incident. The police registered a case and have intensified the investigation.

The incident happened last night around 10. Sathyanathan was hacked with an axe during the ganamela organized as part of the temple festival at Peruvattur Cheriyapuram in Koyilandy. Sathyanathan sustained more than four hack injuries on his body and was rushed to the Koyilandy Taluk Hospital but could not save his life. Abhilash, the accused was immediately taken into police custody. He was Sathyanathan's driver while serving as the chairman of Koyilandy Municipal Corporation. The police said the accused had a personal enmity with Sathyanathan.

Hundreds of people thronged the taluk hospital knowing about the murder. Let the police find the reason that led to the murder, responded CPM Kozhikode district secretary P Mohanan. He said that it is not possible to say whether there is politics behind the murder. The body will be handed over to his relatives after post-mortem at Kozhikode Medical College.