KOCHI: Opposition leader V D Satheesan said the verdict of the CBI court finding 14 guilty in the Periya double murder case is a relief and increases the faith of the public in the judicial system. Two youths were brutally murdered without any reason. Two families were orphaned by the criminals after committing the murder. V D Satheesan while talking to the media alleged that the CPM committed the murder.

'Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his government and the CPM tried to save the accused. They even used the tax money of the people for that. The CPM was behind the criminal conspiracy in the murder. The CPM had decided whom to kill. The CPM decided how to kill, where to hide the accused after the murder, hid them, destroyed the evidence and hid the weapons.

They are the ones who rule Kerala. The government misused the police to protect the accused. Rs one crore was spent from the tax money with the knowledge of the chief minister to prevent the CBI from coming. We are ashamed knowing that the party which hatched a conspiracy to brutally kill the two youths, are ruling Kerala.

An appeal will be filed in consultation with the family against the verdict acquitting 10 in the case. The court verdict is a moral victory of the struggle waged by the Congress party and the families of Sharat Lal and Kripesh. The CPM state committee should repay the one crore rupees spent from the public exchequer to save the accused. The chief minister and the party, who tried to save the accused despite the brutal double murder, should apologize to the people.

We should not allow such murders to continue in Kerala. The judicial system and the police should not become systems that cover up any atrocities. This court verdict is against all that. It is clear who is protecting the accused after the CPM said they will appeal against the verdict. The government, which should be with the plaintiff in a criminal case, is trying to protect the accused. Instead of rejoicing when the criminals are punished, those leading the administration say that they will appeal, and the CPM is once again shouting that it is a party that openly protects criminals.

The family demanded a CBI investigation when it became clear that they will not get justice from the police. If the accused had not been punished, it would have sent a message that anyone can kill anyone. What wrong did the youths do? No matter how many times we go, cannot console the families of the two. The CPM is killing their opponents in a worse way than terrorist organizations.

Terrorist organizations kill their opponents with a knife or a bullet. However, the CPM plans the murder and kills by disfiguring the face. The CPM leadership gives directions including in the case of TP's murder, that even the family members should not recognize the face if they see it. The Congress will be with them until the family gets justice,' V D Satheesan clarified.