The Hindu : It was not a riot, says DGP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 04, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

It was not a riot, says DGP

By Our Staff Reporter

KOTTAYAM May 3. The violent incidents at Marad on Friday were not a riot but `murder pure and simple' which had a communal background, the Director General of Police, K.J. Joseph, said here today.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Kerala Police Pensioners Welfare Association, Mr. Joseph said the action was carried out without prior warning. Prima facie, it was impossible for the police to avert the incident, he said.

Mr. Joseph expressed concern at the rising tendency in Kerala society to view everything through a communal prism.

"Whether it was appointment or promotion or anything else, we tend to seek a communal angle to it. That even those holding positions of political authority too tend to hold such views is a cause of alarm," he said.

Mr. Joseph said there might be political or other reasons for the rise of communalism in society. However, what was dangerous was that such elements received patronage and protection from political mentors.

He said that it was imperative to separate political issues from communal issues. The police chief pointed to the danger posed by communal forces in a multi-religious society like Kerala and hoped that Marad would open the eyes of all sections of society.

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