2 Youth Congress workers hacked to death in Kasaragod, hartal on Monday
Kasargod, Feb 17: Two Youth Congress workers were allegedly hacked to death by unidentified assailants in the northern district of Kasargod late Sunday night, a senior police official said.
The incident took place at around 8 pm and the deceased were identified as Kripesh and Sarath Lal (24), the official said.
"Two youths have been killed. We have just confirmed the identity of the deceased. Further investigation is on," police said.
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala lashed out at the ruling CPI(M) and expressed his strong protest against the double murder.
He will visit homes of the two deceased workers on Monday.
"The CPI(M) is trying to destroy the Congress party using the party goons.
The youth congress activists were attacked without any provocation. They were not involved in any kind of criminal activities. No cases were there against them. The government should identify the culprits and arrest them as soon as possible," Chennithala told media persons.
He also alleged that the murder was a conspiracy hatched by the CPI(M) as the Lok Sabha elections are near.
However, CPI(M) district secretary M V Balakrishnan Master categorically denied any role of his party in the killings.
"We strongly condemn this murder. We are against murderous politics.
We don't have any role in this," he told media persons.
Sources said the workers were returning home after attending a local function on Sunday night and they were stopped by a gang of unidentified people who came in a car and hacked them to death.
The identity of the attackers was yet to the confirmed, police said.
The UDF has called for a district-wide hartal in Kasaragod on Monday.
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Tribal man brings dead sister's skeleton to bank to withdraw money from her account
Keonjhar (PTI): A tribal man in Odisha's Keonjhar district on Monday brought the skeleton of his dead sister to a bank to withdraw the money deposited in her name, police said.
The incident occurred at Maliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank located at Patana block of Keonjhar district. The man was identified as Jeetu Munda (50) of Dianali village. He was seeking to withdraw Rs 20,000 from the bank account of his elder sister, Kalra Munda (56), who died on January 26, 2026.
"I have run several times to the bank, and the people there told me to bring the account holder to withdraw money deposited in her name. Though I told them that she had died, they did not listen to me and insisted on bringing her to the bank. Therefore, out of frustration, I dug the grave and brought out her skeleton as proof of her death," an illiterate Jeetu Munda told reporters.
Patana Police Station Inspector in charge (IIC) Kiran Prasad Sahu, who reached the bank after getting information, said, "Jeetu is an illiterate tribal man. He does not know what the legal heir or nominee is. The bank officials have failed to make him understand the procedure to withdraw money from the dead person's account."
However, after the incident, the police assured Jeetu Munda that they would facilitate the withdrawal of money from the bank account of his dead sister. Later, the skeleton was again buried at the graveyard in presence of police.
Meanwhile, local Block Development Officer (BDO) Manas Dandpat said that he was not approached by anyone for the legal heir of late Kalra Munda. "Today only, I came to know about it. We will see what can be done to resolve the issue," the BDO said.
Meanwhile, bank sources said that the nominee in Kalra Munda's bank account was also dead. Therefore, Jeetu Munda was the lone claimant over the money deposited in her name.
The local administration has directed the bank officers to make arrangements and ensure that Jeetu Munda, who is the only claimant as per the rules, gets the money as soon as possible.
