A CBI special court on Friday sentenced 10 CPM workers to double life imprisonment for the brutal murders of Youth Congress members Kripesh (21) and Sarathlal K (24) in 2019. The court also imposed fines of ₹2 lakh each on the convicts for their role in the killings at Kalliyot near Periya, Kasargod.  

In addition, four others, including former CPM MLA K V Kunhiraman, were given five-year jail terms for aiding the escape of the second accused, Sakor George, from police custody. The court fined them ₹10,000 each. The accused in this category included Kanhangad Block Panchayat president K Manikandan, Raghavan Velutholy, and K V Bhaskaran, a retired cooperative bank secretary.  

The murders, which occurred on February 17, 2019, shocked the state due to their brutality. The 10 sentenced to life include Peethambaran, a former member of the CPM Periya Local Committee, and others like Saji C George, Suresh K M, Anil Kumar (alias Abu), Gijin, Sreerag R, Aswin A (alias Appu), CITU worker Subeesh, Ranjith T, and A Surendran (alias Vishnu Sara).  

The CPM had earlier removed Peethambaran from its Periya Local Committee post after his arrest.  

Families of the victims expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, particularly the lack of death sentences for the prime accused. They criticized the lighter punishment given to Kunhiraman, who was part of the conspiracy. The families intend to consult with Congress leaders and seek legal advice to explore an appeal.  

Opposition leader V D Satheesan condemned the CPM, stating that the verdict exposed the party’s involvement in political violence. He accused the CPM of falsely claiming no connection to the murders. Meanwhile, CPM state secretary M V Govindan reiterated the party's stance, denying any organizational role in the killings. He announced plans to review the judgment and decide on further legal action, attributing the murders to internal conflicts.  

The case has highlighted the ongoing issue of political violence in Kerala, with the verdict sparking calls for stricter accountability and justice for victims.