Two DYFI workers hacked to death in Kerala; CPI-M alleges Congress involvement
Thiruvananthapuram: Two activists of the youth wing of the CPI(M) were hacked to death by a gang, with the Marxist party heading the ruling LDF alleging that Congress was behind the killings and the latter rejecting the charge on Monday.
Mithilaj (30) and Haq Muhammed (24) were attacked with sharp edged weapons at Venjaramoodu in this district at around 11.30 pm on Sunday. While Mithilaj died on the spot, the other man succumbed while being taken to a hospital, police said.
Police said they suspected rivalry between the CPI(M) and the Congress workers was the reason for the killings that triggered tension in the area on Onam day.
Condemning the killing of the DYFI workers, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ordered a comprehensive probe into the incident.
Three people have been taken into custody in connection with the incident, Police said, adding the bodies of the victims had been handed over to relatives after postmortem.
The DYFI workers were attacked while they were going to Mithilaj's home on a motorbike. CCTV visuals aired by TV channels showed a gang of assailants attacking the duo.
Vijayan, also holding the Home portfolio, directed the police to nab the assailants and investigate the motive behind the fatal attack.
The CPI(M) and DYFI alleged that Congress workers were behind the killing of DYFI activists, but the opposition party denied any role in it saying the party "does not believe in violence".
CPI(M) state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged a high-level conspiracy by Congress leadership behind the attack.
"It is a planned murder. The top leadership of the Congress has a role in it," Balakrishnan alleged.
The party will observe a 'black day' on September 2 in protest against the "brutal killing" of the DYFI workers, he said.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the Congress had no role in the killings.
"The Congress is not a party of assailants. We don't encourage goons in our party," he said.
The senior Congress leader alleged a "false propaganda" had been unleashed by the state government to blame his party.
"The effort by a government, which has lost face due to its misdeeds, to malign the Congress will not succeed," he told reporters.
Terming it a "heinous attack", CPI(M) state secretariat member K N Balagopal alleged the Congress leadership was responsible for the killing of DYFI activists.
"Two DYFI workers were brutally killed on the eve of Thiruvonam day. It is evident that the Congress, instead of encouraging democratic discourse, is encouraging violence against CPI(M)-DYFI workers in the state. We strongly condemn this heinous attack on DYFI activists," Balagopal said.
Meanwhile, Workers of the Youth Congress and the DYFI clashed in front of the Public Service Commission office at Pattom here.
The clash erupted when a march by DYFI activists against the killings passed the PSC office where Youth Congress workers were protesting cancellation of a rank list.
The police removed Youth Congress workers including its leaders and Congress MLAs Shafi Parambil and K S Sabarinathan following the clashes between the two groups.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
