Chandigarh, Oct 11: The Punjab Police Thursday claimed to have solved a 10-year-old murder case of a columnist-cum-politician in Patiala with the arrest of two persons.

Darbara Singh Seona, a Punjabi columnist and the general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal, was shot dead on September 12, 2008, by unknown assailants. A case was registered at Civil Lines Police Station in Patiala city in this regard.

During investigation it was found that the motive behind the killing was a family dispute, said Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, the IGP (Intelligence) at the Organized Crime Control Unit (OCCU) of the Punjab Police.

Since Seona had written a controversial article in a vernacular newspaper, prior investigations suspected the involvement of some radical elements in his killing, he said.

He said two persons were arrested in the case Thursday. They were identified as Daljit Singh of Patiala and Pushpinder Singh of Jind in Haryana.

After an intensive questioning, both of them confessed to the crime and revealed the names of other men involved in the crime.

Both the accused have a past criminal record, he said.

Kunwar said further investigation in this case was on and efforts were being made to nab the other accused.

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Kozhikode (PTI): Violence erupted overnight at various places across Kerala, particularly in northern districts, following the announcement of local body election results, police said.

In Eramala in Kozhikode district, tension prevailed throughout the night after the Indira Gandhi Bhavan, a Congress office, was allegedly attacked by CPI(M) workers.

According to an FIR registered at Edachery police station, around 200 people marched towards the Congress office carrying dangerous weapons and vandalised the building, causing damage estimated at around Rs five lakh.

A statue of late prime minister Indira Gandhi was also damaged in the attack, police said. Soon after, UDF activists gathered at the spot, further aggravating the situation.

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However, with the deployment of additional police personnel, the situation was brought under control, an officer said.

Police said another violent incident was reported at Marad, where stones were allegedly pelted at a UDF victory procession, leaving several persons injured.

In Sultan Bathery in Wayanad district, police registered a case after a car carrying a UDF activist and his family members was allegedly attacked by around 40 CPI(M) workers, an official said.

Sultan Bathery police also booked UDF activists in a separate incident for allegedly attacking a CPI(M) worker who objected to the bursting of crackers near his house, the officer said.

In Panoor in Kannur district, houses of several Muslim League activists were allegedly attacked by CPI(M) workers. Vehicles parked at the houses were also damaged.

According to Panoor police, the violence broke out after a UDF victory rally was allegedly stopped by CPI(M) workers armed with swords and daggers. Some UDF leaders sustained injuries in the clash.

Clashes were also reported between UDF and LDF workers at Ulikkal in Kannur district, though police intervention brought the situation under control later in the night, an officer in the Ulikkal police station said.

In Bedakom in Kasaragod district, an LDF victory march turned violent after CPI(M) activists allegedly intercepted UDF workers passing through the area. Some policemen who intervened suffered minor injuries, an officer said.

Similar violence was reported from Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram district following clashes between CPI(M) and BJP workers. Police said workers from both sides sustained minor injuries and were admitted to hospitals. Cases will be registered after formal complaints are received, police said.