The accused persons include: former MLA and CPI(M) district leader K. V. Kunhiraman[1] K Manikandan A Peethambaran N Balakrishnan Raghavan Velutholi[2]
The Periya double murder case or Kripesh-Sarathlal murders case[3][4] was a double murder case that occurred on 17 February 2019 at Kallyod Periye, Kasaragod districtKerala, India.[5] The murder was brutal Murder of Youth Congress activists from Sharath Lal (23) and Kripesh (19), Youth Congress activists from the village of Kallyod[6]
Murders
On February 17, 2019, at around 7:30 pm, Sharath Lal and Kripesh were riding a motorcycle along the Koorankara road in Kallyod (Periye), a rural area in Kasaragod district. They were intercepted by a group of assailants and brutally hacked to death. The killings, believed to have been politically motivated, immediately sparked outrage and led to widespread protests.[7][8]
In March 2019: The Crime Branch arrested A Peethambaran, a CPM local committee member, and C J Saji, his accomplice. However, there was widespread dissatisfaction with the progress of the investigation.[10]
In April 2019: In response to public outcry, the parents of the victims approached the Kerala High Court, demanding that the case be handed over to the CBI. The court ruled in favor of their petition.
In September 2019: The High Court’s Single Bench ordered the transfer of the investigation to the CBI, a decision that was upheld by the Division Bench.[11]
In December 2021: After the state government’s challenge was rejected by the Supreme Court, the CBI took over the investigation.[12]
In December 2024 :The court found 14 of the 24 accused guilty for their involvement in the 2019 killings of Youth Congress workers Sarathlal and Kripesh.[8][13]
