KOLLAM: The police rejected the claims of the CPM and the chief minister in connection with the murder of party activist Manilal. The police is of the stand that the murder was due to personal enmity. The FIR and the remand report have rejected the claims of the chief minister and the CPM that it was a political murder. A dispute broke out between the two in bringing tourists to the resort. Police said this is the reason for the murder.

The report said Manilal was stabbed to death after hurling abuses at him following previous enmity. The ruling party's allegation that the incident was a political murder was refuted by this police report.

Ashokan (56), retired from Delhi police and the auto driver Sathyan (58) who saved him from the spot were produced in the court and remanded.

From the beginning, the police said the main reason for the murder was previous enmity between Manilal and Ashokan. They had asserted that no evidence of political affiliation were found but the Left parties including the CPM had propagated it as political murder. Rural SP R Elango said more probe will be conducted after the election results are out.