All 12 killers of BJP functionary identified but culprits have fled Kerala

All the 12 accused, suspected to have been directly involved in the recent murder of BJP functionary Ranjith Sreenivas in Alappuzha, have been identified, but they have managed to escape from Kerala.

Meanwhile, another person was arrested in connection with the murder of SDPI’s K S Shan, for allegedly providing logistic support to the killers, said the Kerala police.

“Special police teams were deployed to track down the absconding culprits and the probe has been extended outside the state,” ADGP (Law and Order) Vijay Sakhare told reporters.

The senior IPS officer, who heads the Special Investigation Team probing the back-to-back murder cases of Sreenivas and Shan, however, said that they have got relevant information regarding the conspiracy in both cases but could not divulge the details since it would adversely impact the investigation.

Also read: Alappuzha murders: 5 arrested; police suspect larger conspiracy

“All the 12 accused, directly involved in the murder of Sreenivas, have been identified. But, none of them are in the state now. We are chasing them. They will land in police custody soon,” Sakhare said, adding that he is sure that the killers had received external support to go into hiding and that the police was examining the details.

Asked about the SDPI’s allegations against frequent police searches in the houses of party activists and sympathisers, Sakhare said that raids would continue in the suspected hideouts of the accused as it was important to nab the culprits.

“We have to maintain that the law and order situation is not broken down. For that, raids are important,” Sakhare said.

Sakhare said that an ambulance, suspected to have been used by the culprits involved in the Shan murder case, was seized by the police and its scientific and forensic examination would be carried out soon.

“It is a cat and mouse game now. Every accused is in hiding, but we will nab them at any cost,” the senior officer added.

Also read: Kerala police arrest two in connection with SDPI leader’s killing

Shan, the state secretary of SDPI, was killed by a gang on Saturday night while he was on his way back home, while the BJP OBC Morcha state secretary Sreenivas was hacked to death in front of his family by some assailants in his house on Sunday morning.

Five SDPI sympathisers had been arrested in connection with the murder of Sreenivas so far, while the arrest of three persons had been recorded in the death of Shan, according to the police.

(With inputs from Agencies)