CPI(M) activist K Vikraman (42), first accused in the case pertaining to the brutal murder of RSS leader Manoj at Kathiroor near Thalassery in Kerala’s Kannur district, surrendered on Thursday morning before the First Class Judicial Magistrate Court-2 in Kannur even as the police said that the killers had planned to murder Manoj’s companion, Pramod, also.
Vikraman reached the court premises on a motorcycle and sneaked into the court room without giving the police personnel enough time to identify him. The Special team of the Kerala Police’s Crime Branch had a few days ago issued lookout notice for Vikraman, a member of the CPI(M)’s West Kathiroor branch committee.
The court later remanded Vikraman in the custody of the Special Investigation Team for 14 days. The SIT had prayed to the court that it needed Vikraman in its custody for as long as possible as the case was very serious and the seven other accused were still absconding. The police have to produce the CPI(M) activist in the court before 11.00 pm on September 25.
Manoj (42), Kannur district Sharirik Shikshan Pramukh of the RSS, was brutally hacked to death on September 1 when he was travelling in a Maruti Omni vehicle with friend Pramod, by a seven-member Marxist killer gang. The gang first created a terror situation by hurling bombs at the vehicle and then hacked Manoj to death after dragging him out of it.
Pramod (50) had suffered serious hack injuries in the attack. The police have registered an FIR naming eight CPI(M) activists as accused, who were also charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The State Government had last week recommended a CBI probe into the murder.
Pramod, the only eyewitness in the case, had earlier told the police that it was Vikraman who had hacked Manoj to death with an axe. The gang hacked Pramod from the rear when he tried to escape the scene by slipping out of the vehicle. Pramod is presently undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode.
Meanwhile, the local CPI(M) leaders of Kathiroor who were asked to appear before the special probe team for questioning in connection with Manoj’s murder did not turn up on Thursday. As per the remand report the police filed in the court for Vikraman’s custody, the killers had intended to murder Pramod also.