Periya twin murder: CBI court sentences 10 to double life imprisonment

KOCHI: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Friday sentenced 10 people to double life imprisonment, while four others, including a former Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA, received five-year prison terms for the killing of two Youth Congress activists in Periya, located in Kerala's Kasaragod district, five years ago.

The court had declared them guilty the previous Saturday.

The incident involves the killing of Youth Congress members Kripesh, 19, and Sarath Lal P K, 24, allegedly by CPI(M) members on February 17, 2019.

Among those convicted are former MLA and CPI(M) district leader K V Kunhiraman, Kanhangad block panchayat president K Manikandan, former CPI(M) Periya local committee member A Peethambaran, and former Pakkam local secretary Raghavan Velutholi.

The prosecution established that these dual murders occurred as a result of political confrontations between CPI(M) and Congress supporters in the region.