Kerala in chaos after member is named in double murder probe

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM // The Kerala assembly session was cut short yesterday as opposition members demanded that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislator, PK Basheer, be arrested after he was named in a double murder investigation.

Opposition legislators from leftist parties held a sit-in near the assembly speaker G Karthikeyan's podium, demanding that Mr Basheer be arrested.

Mr Karthikeyan tried to restore order to the assembly but failed.

"The language used in the slogans has to be toned down ... What is happening now is not good," the speaker said before adjourning the session.

Mr Basheer was named in a first information report for the killing of two brothers on Sunday. He was accused by family members of being behind the killings.

Mr Basheer said in a speech this month that the IUML would seek revenge for the killing of the party activist A Rehman following a clash at a football tournament in Malappuram in January. – IANS