Chandrasekharan murder: Another CPM member held

KOZHIKODE: As the CPM has stepped up its resistance against the T P Chandrasekharan murder investigation, one more local committee member was arrested by the Special Investigation Team on charges of conspiracy and abetment of the crime on Saturday. With this,  the total number of arrested reached 14, including three local committee members.Jyothi Babu, 51, of Parambathu, Krishna Nivas, Kunnothuparambu, who is running a metal crusher and a quarry, is a member of the CPM Kunnothuparambu local committee. It is learnt that Babu is one among the fund raisers of CPM in Kannur and a leader of the Vyapari-Vyvasayi Ekopana Samithi, Kannur unit.Police sources said it was Jyothi Babu who introduced Sunil Kumar alias Kodi Suni to Kunnummakkara local committee member K C Ramachandran, who was earlier arrested by the police.Babu also handed over Rs 61,500 to Kodi Suni in advance. A few days after the murder, Babu collected the amount from Ramachandran, while the latter was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kannur.Jyothi Babu was produced before Judicial First Class Magistrate Court Kunnamangalam on Saturday evening which  remanded him in police custody for 10 days.The SIT  took Ajeesh, a native of Panoor in Kannur district, into custody on Saturday. The police also got evidence that CPM Koothuparamba area committee office secretary Babu had contacted top leaders in Kannur after the incident.Meanwhile, Kozhikode District Collector has extended the prohibition order issued in Azhiyoor, Eramala, Onchiyam and Chorodu panchayats under Vadakara circle for a week from Sunday.