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{{Short description|2019 murders in Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Periya double murder case
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| location = [[Periya, Kasaragod]], Kerala, India
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| date = {{start date and age|2019|2|17}}
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| type = Murder
| fatalities = 2
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| accused = 28
| convicted = 14
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On 17 February 2019, two [[Indian Youth Congress]] activists from Kallyod,<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2020 |title=CBI re-enacts attack on Sarath Lal, Kripesh in Periya |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/cbi-re-enacts-attack-on-sarath-kripesh-in-periya/articleshow/79746048.cms |via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}}</ref> 23-year-old Sharath Lal and 19-year-old Kripesh, were stabbed to death at Kallyod [[Periya, Kasaragod|Periya, Kasaragod district]], Kerala, India.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2019 |title=Kerala: Two Congress workers hacked to death in Kasaragod |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-two-congress-workers-hacked-to-death-in-kasaragod/articleshow/68039098.cms |website=[[The Times of India]] |via=}}</ref> At trial, 14 people were found guilty for their involvement in the killings, of 24 people accused.

== Background ==
In January 2019, Sharath Lal assaulted one of the accused during a clash regarding a Perumkaliyattam celebration in Kalliot, which he had helped organise. Lal was briefly imprisoned on an assault charge, but was released by 17 February.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=December 24, 2024 |title=Periya twin murder case verdict on December 28 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2024/Dec/24/periya-twin-murder-case-verdict-on-december-28 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

==Murders==
On February 17, 2019, at around 7:30 pm, Sharath Lal and Kripesh were riding a motorcycle along the Koorankara road in Kallyod ([[Periya, Kasaragod|Periye]]), a rural area in [[Kasaragod district]]. They were intercepted by a group of assailants and attacked; Kripesh was declared dead on site, while Sharath died on route to hospital.<ref name="auto" />

== Aftermath ==
The killings, believed to have been politically motivated, immediately sparked outrage and led to widespread protests.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 9, 2023 |title=CBI court issues media gag order in Periya twin murder case trial |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kochi-cbi-court-issues-media-gag-order-pieriya-twin-murder-case-trial/article66488935.ece |website=[[The Hindu]] |via=}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Sudhi |first=K. S. |date=December 28, 2024 |title=Periya twin murder case verdict: 14 convicted, 10 let off |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/14-convicted-10-let-off-in-periya-twin-murder-case/article69036236.ece |website=[[The Hindu]] |via=}}</ref>

==Investigation==
In March 2019, the Crime Branch arrested A Peethambaran, a [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] local committee member, and C J Saji, his accomplice. However, there was widespread dissatisfaction with the progress of the investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/periya-double-murder-two-cpm-leaders-arrested-granted-bail/articleshow/69325969.cms|title=Periya double murder: Two CPM leaders arrested, granted bail|date=May 14, 2019|via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}}</ref> In April 2019, in response to public outcry, the parents of the victims approached the [[Kerala High Court]], demanding that the case be handed over to the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI). The court ruled in favour of their petition.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}} In September 2019, the High Court’s Single Bench ordered the transfer of the investigation to the CBI, a decision that was upheld by the [[Division bench|Division Bench]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/periya-murders-sc-upholds-kerala-hc-order-for-cbi-probe/articleshow/79523638.cms|title=Periya murders: SC upholds Kerala HC order for CBI probe|date=December 2, 2020|via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}}</ref>

In December 2021, after the state government’s challenge was rejected by the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]], the CBI took over the investigation.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |date=December 1, 2021 |title=Five CPI(M) workers held in Periya murder case |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/five-cpim-workers-held-in-periya-murder-case/article37795410.ece |website=[[The Hindu]] |via=}}</ref>

=== Trial ===
The trial began in [[Kochi]] in February 2023.<ref name=":0" /> In December 2024, the court found 14 of the 24 accused guilty for their involvement in the killings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 28, 2024 |title=Periya double murder case: Court finds 14 guilty, including former MLA KV Kunhiraman |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/periya-double-murder-verdict-out-1.10202702 |website=English.Mathrubhumi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Periya double murder: Court finds 14 guilty including CPM ex-MLA Kunhiraman, acquits 10, to award sentence on Jan 3 |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/12/28/periya-double-murder-case-verdict.html |website=[[Onmanorama]]}}</ref><ref name="auto1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/periya-double-murder-cbi-verdict-today-1.10202578|title=Periya double murder case verdict today: Heavy police security in Kalliot|date=December 28, 2024|website=English.Mathrubhumi}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Periya double murder case}}
[[Category:2019 murders in India]]
[[Category:2019 in Kerala]]
[[Category:Crime in Kerala]]
[[Category:People murdered in Kerala]]
[[Category:Deaths by person in India]]
[[Category:Stabbing attacks in India]]
[[Category:February 2019 in India]]
[[Category:February 2019 crimes in Asia]]

Periya double murder case - Revision history

NamMcduffie6361: Created first details added tags