EX-CPI (M) ACTIVIST TP CHANDRASEKHARAN HACKED TO DEATH

EX-CPI (M) ACTIVIST TP CHANDRASEKHARAN HACKED TO DEATH

In a shocking incident fraught with political overtones, leader of Revolutionary Marxist Party T P Chandrasekharan, who was expelled from CPI(M) a few years back, was attacked and killed by unidentified assailants at Vallikkad near Vatakara in Kozhikode district on 4^th May,2012,Friday night.According to police, 50-year-old Chandrasekharan was attacked by assailants who came by a car while he was riding a motorcycle alone. Country-made bombs were hurled at him and when he fell off the motorcycle, he was hacked to death with
sharp weapons Condemning the incident, leaders of the Congress-led UDF alleged that CPI(M) workers could be behind the murder as Chandrasekharan had been an irritant to the party leadership in their stronghold Onjiyam for quite some time.

CPI (M) District Secretary T P Ramakrishan, however, refuted the allegation.'Our party has nothing to do with this incident. We are opposed to this type of violence', Ramakrishnan said.
Chandrasekharan began his political career as an activist of the CPI (M)'s campus wing SFI. He later became a whole-timer of the party in its stronghold. Chandrasekharan was once known as a supporter of senior leader V S Achuthanandan and was said to have incurred the
wrath of the faction loyal to the party state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.Home Miniter Thiruvanchur Radhakrishan condemned the incident and said an effective investigation would be conducted and culprits brought to book.Union Minister of State for Home Mullapally Ramachandran expressed profound grief at the murder of Chandrasekharan.Socialist Janata Democratic leader M P Veerendra Kumar expressed shock at the incident.

CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan alleged conspiracy behind the murder of T P Chandrasekharan . He said the murder need to be condemned and it is suspected that a quotation gang would have commited the gruesome crime. CPM has no role in the murder and some of the initial reactions immediately after the murder came from UDF leaders. The sudden reaction makes it clear that they were aware of the incident well in advance. Pinarayi said his party knows how to deal politically with political opponents and the party does not eliminate them. He said a fair probe is needed and the ruling party members would try to sabotage such a probe. He also asked if UDF government was aware of threat to Chandrasekharan's life then why was he denied police protection. It's a gross negligence, Pinarayi said.
V S Achuthanandhan said that T P Chandrasekharan was a strong communist and no communist can be destroyed physically. CPM has no links to the murder.VS said the culprits must be brought to book immediately and those who had not given protection to Chandrasekharan inspite of being told that he was constantly under threat must also be booked.

                                 Prof. John Kurakar