Cong suspends the leader for attending the wedding reception of double murder accused Periya’s son

Kasaragod: The Congress was left red-faced after the Periya Mandalam party president attended the wedding reception of the son of an accused in the Periya double murder case.

In a statement, the district Congress committee said that Periya Congress Mandalam president Pramod Periya has been removed from office on the instructions of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

N Balakrishnan, the CPM’s former local secretary in Periya, has been named as the 13th accused in the murder of Youth Congress workers PK Sarathlal and Kripesh. He is among the few of the 24 defendants released on bail in the case.

Balakrishnan’s son got married in Payyannur and on Tuesday, May 7, the new couple organized a reception in Periya.

After the reception, a photo of Pramod Periya flanked by Balakrishnan and the groom did the rounds on social media. Former Udma MLA and CPM leader K. Kunhiraman was also seen in the photo.

According to Congress sources, the party sought an explanation from Pramod Periya. They said Pramod downplayed his attendance at the reception, saying he was invited by Balakrishnan’s brother, who was his tenant. Pramod also reportedly told the party that several other Congress workers from Periya had attended the reception.

The Congress suspended him and handed over the charge to Congress block committee chairman KV Bhakthavalsalan.