DYFI leader is innocent; Went there for rescue operations, says M V Govindan

KANNUR: CPM state secretary M V Govindan defended the DYFI leader arrested in connection with the blast during bomb making in Panoor. He said the DYFI leader had gone to the blast site for rescue operations and that he was innocent.

Amal Babu, DYFI unit secretary of Kunnothuparambu and Mithunlal were arrested in the case yesterday. Amal Babu was arrested Sunday morning. Police said that he was present there at the time of the explosion. Apart from the three injured, six people have been arrested so far. A special investigation team under the leadership of Koothuparambu ACP K V Venugopal is investigating the case.

Govindan also defended the visit of CPM leaders to the house of Sherin, who died in the blast. He said that it is customary in the home town to console the dead. CPM Panoor area committee member Sudheer Kumar and Poyiloor local committee member A Ashokan had gone to Sherin's house.

The local leaders visited Sherin's house after leaders including M V Govindan said that Sherin and Vinesh, who was injured in the blast, had earlier attacked CPM workers and that the party had rejected them.