SDPI-PFI, BJP-RSS members involved in Palakkad killings: Cops

Palakkad (Kerala): Members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its political offshoot SDPI as well as BJP-RSS were among those involved in the two recent back-to-back murders in Palakkad district, Kerala police said on Monday.

ADGP (Law and Order) Vijay Sakhare, speaking to reporters here, said the police has identified the culprits involved in the murder of PFI leader Subair (43) on April 15, and arrests would be made soon.

Regarding the killing of RSS leader S K Srinivasan (45), Sakhare said all the culprits have been almost identified and it has been found that they are in hiding.

Once their locations are identified, arrests would be made in that case also, he said and added that presently no one was in custody.

He also told reporters that besides digital clues like CCTV footage and mobile locations, human intelligence was also used to identify and trace those involved in the two murders which led to imposition of prohibitory orders in the district till April 20 and holding of an all-party meeting there.

He further said that among the culprits identified so far, there were party members from both PFI-SDPI and BJPRSS.

On Sunday, Sakhare had said, “There is a conspiracy behind both murders. We will find out who is behind it. The killers were only foot soldiers.” He had also refuted allegations that the police failed to prevent the RSS leader’s murder, on Saturday, despite there being a possibility of retaliation after the murder of Subair the previous day, saying it was “very very difficult” to prevent a planned murder and both the killings were “well planned”.