Did not shield when other party activists attacked him, instead blamed; Sathyanathan deliberately ignored, says accused

KOYILANDY: The statement of Abhilash, accused in the murder case of P V Sathyanathan (66), CPM Koyilandy central local secretary, is out. He told police that Sathyanathan deliberately ignored him.

Abhilash told police that Sathyanathan did not protect him when other party activists attacked him. Instead, blamed him. Kept him away from other party activities. There are reports that Abhilash said that all this led to enmity. The police will file a custody plea for Abhilash today. Kozhikode Rural District Police Chief Dr Arvind Sukumar is in charge of the investigation.

The murder was committed at 10 pm during the temple festival at Peruvattur Cheriyapuram in Koyilandy on Thursday. Sathyanathan was there with his family for the festival. As soon as his grandson fell asleep, he handed over the child to his daughter and moved towards the crowd. Abhilash immediately stabbed him using a surgical blade.

Sathyanathan, who was stabbed in the neck and chest, was soon taken to Koyilandy Taluk Hospital but he was declared dead on reaching there. Abhilash, who fled soon after committing the crime, later surrendered to the Koyilandy police.