AYUSH ANAND & VAIBHAV CHADHA
Name of the Victim – CT Manoj (Aged 33 years, when killed by communist-backed goons)
Family – Pushpa (wife), Children- Aarya (Daughter) – 14 years & Nanda (Daughter) – 11 years
Place of attack – Ayanikkad, Payyoli Municipality, Khozikhode District, Kerala
Date of Attack– February 12, 2012
Date of Death– February 13, 2013
Occupation– Auto Driver. He was the BMS Motor Unit Secretary, Payyoli unit, Kozhikode district.
Our team spoke to KT Vasu, brother-in-law of late CT Manoj. He said that on the fateful day, Manoj’s children had gone to their maternal grandfather’s home, and at their residence Manoj, wife Pushpa and Manoj’s mother were present. On that day around 9:30 pm, while after having dinner Manoj, his wife and mother were sitting in the verandah, suddenly a group of people surrounded their residence with swords, big wooden pieces, iron pipes etc in their hands. The portion below the knee of Manoj was first attacked severely with a sword and there was a deep cut injury. Manoj then with his mother and wife ran inside the house and locked them all in the bedroom. But the goons broke open the door and attacked CT Manoj fatally in front of wife and mother. Communist goons also attacked the two women. Eventually, the attackers threw a big stone (used for construction of houses in that area, red stone) on Manoj’s chest. Other members of the crowd also attacked him with different weapons; they also attacked his mother, kicked her and dragged her out after the brutal assault on Manoj. The goons after injuring Manoj, his wife and mother left the place. The villagers then took him to hospital where he succumbed to injuries.
The family members and relatives told our team that 15 persons were identified, 14 were arrested and 1 is absconding. The persons arrested include DYFI Village Secretary- Jhittesh (Accused 2 in the case), CITU Auto Section Unit Secretary- Ajith Kumar (Accused 1 in the case), Biju- DYFI Block Secretary (Accused 3 in the case). The mastermind behind this well planned and conspired incident was local CPI(M) MLA K. Dasan (who has been re-elected) and communist Leader Suresh Babu.
Advocate Rajesh (Vadakara), who is looking after this case, told us that, because of the lackadaisical attitude of the police to investigate properly and because of several flaws in the investigation, the Kerala High Court ordered a CBI probe. Along with this case High Court also ordered for the CBI inquiry into the murder case of IUML’s Muslim Student Federation worker Aryl Shukkur, in which CPI(M) MLA T V Rajesh and Kannur CPI(M) secretary P jayrajan is the main accused. P Jayarajan’s sister, advocate Sathi Devi, is a former MP from Vadakkara constituency.
Manoj was a social person, and because of his friendly relations, he was helping the BJP/RSS gain strength in the area. So, the CPI(M) used their local workers, Babu and Nanu to first to attack Sangh workers of the area. They also started abusing and teasing Manoj’s sister. So, Manoj decided to fight the local body election to quell such rowdies of the area. Though Manoj did not win, because of him the local CPM ward member was defeated. The Muslim League too protested this killing. They also participated in the grief of the victim’s family and their party black flag was also down in the area in protest against the CPI(M) goondaism.
On April 1, 2016, the CBI filed an FIR in this matter in the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court. The accused in the case are Payyoli Ajith Kumar, 37; Choriyanchal Jithesh, 32; Vadakkayil Biju, 39; Purakkad Kottur Sajith, 35; Chakkileri Nizam, 31; Valluparambathu Sanoj, 27; Vadakara Meppayil Sanoob, 27; Ayanikad Nidheesh, 26; Choriyanchal Priyesh, 26; Kambivalappil Sumesh, 30; Kalathil Suneesh, 30; Puliyodu Akhilnath, 25; Meethal Ramsheed, 25; Padannayil Akhil, 23, and Thoikkodi Unnikrishnan, 23. Currently, Manoj’a family is being maintained by the swayamsevaks of Kerala.