CPI-M leader CH Ashokan passes away

Former NGO union Kerala general secretary and CPI(M) Kozhikode District Committee member, C H Ashokan, passed away after a brief illness at Thiruvanathapuram last night, party sources said.

Ashokan (61), who was the ninth accused in Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader T P Chandrasekharan's murder case, was admitted to the Regional Cancer Centre hospital at Thiruvananthapuram a week ago.

He leaves wife and two children.

Ashokan, who was earlier NGO State general secretary for two occasions, was arrested on conspiracy charges in May last year in connection the RMP leader's murder.

He was the former CPI(M) Onchiyam Area Secretary.

CPI(M) State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and former minister and CPI(M) leader P K Sreemathy visited the hospital and paid their last respects to the departed leader.