8 CPM men get life terms for killing defector to Kerala BJP

KANNUR: The district court in Kerala's Thalassery Monday sentenced 8 CPM workers to life imprisonment for murder of BJP activist Elambilayi Suraj in Kannur, a region known for political bloodshed. Another convict received a 3-year jail term.

Suraj, 32, was hacked to death on Aug 7, 2005, in front of a telephone exchange. Investigators said the murder was planned after he defected from CPM to BJP.

Among those sentenced to life are TK Rajeesh (also accused in TP Chandrasekharan murder case) and PM Manoraj, brother of Kerala CM's press secretary. Court fined the convicts Rs 50,000 each, the amount to be paid to Suraj's family. An 11th convict was sentenced to 3 years for aiding killers to hide & evade arrest, while a 10th accused was acquitted due to lack of evidence. Two other suspects died during trial period.

CPM announced plans to challenge the ruling. "Those who were convicted are innocent," said Kannur district secretary MV Jayarajan, vowing party support to appeal the case. Outside Kannur central jail, a crowd of CPM supporters gathered, shouting slogans in solidarity with the convicts.

BJP lashed out at the show of defiance. "CPM workers are challenging the judiciary and democracy," said BJP's Kannur north district president KK Vinod Kumar.

The sentencing reignited memories of Kerala's history of violent political murders, where deep-seated animosities have led to frequent bloodshed. One such case was 2012 murder of TP Chandrasekharan, ex-CPM functionary who broke away to form RMP. He was hacked to death in what was seen as a revenge killing for rebellion against CPM.