KOCHI: A week after Deepu CK (33) was allegedly assaulted by four CPM party workers, the dalit Twenty20 activist died on Friday. His demise also led to an emotional outburst by Twenty20 workers outside the hospital. Deepu was on ventilator support since Monday. "He had intracranial bleeding and was on ventilator support. The exact cause of death can only be confirmed after an autopsy," said sources.
Lashing out against CPM, Kizhakkambalam panchayat member Nisha Aliyar, who witnessed the attack, said that the attackers told her that they were CPM members and challenged her to oppose them. Countering a statement, reportedly made by Kunnathunad MLA PV Sreenijin that the deceased had liver cirrhosis, she replied that the MLA, who sent the goons to attack Deepu, is now making such claims. "I saw them holding him by the neck and hitting him and now they are saying that it is cirrhosis," she said. Twenty20 workers alleged that they will not allow the MLA to visit Kizhakkambalam again.
But, the MLA dismissed the allegation and said Twenty20 was dragging his name in this case for political gains. "What I learnt was that he had a serious disease. I condole his death. But it seems what happened was a spontaneous argument. If the issue was serious, why didn't they file a complaint on the day of the incident? The complaint was given two days later. Also, on the day Deepu went to the hospital at Pazhanganad, he did not give a statement to his doctor that someone had attacked him. So let the investigation collect facts," he said.
The MLA added that if the ward member says she saw the attack, then why didn't she file a complaint immediately. "If he was brutally attacked like she said then there is a responsibility to report it" he said, adding that he will take legal recourse against those raising allegations.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan alleged that Deepu was brutally beaten in the presence of prominent Marxist leaders in the area.Deepu was the latest martyr of the CPM's arrogance, he added.
Hospital sources said his condition did not improve and they removed him from the ventilator after discussions with his kin on Friday noon. "The inquest was held on Friday and we will soon initiate procedures to alter FIR and add murder charges. An exact cause of the death can be known after getting the autopsy report," said an officer with Kunnathunadu police. Twenty20 had earlier alleged that the accused attacked him for participating in a 15-minute light-off protest organized by Twenty20.
Meanwhile, Puthencruz police recorded the arrest of a 41-year-old woman for allegedly creating a poster by placing the photo of Sreenijin adjacent to that of the accused in the case. Police registered the case based on the MLA's complaint. She was later released on station bail.
