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Walkout over CPI(M) activist's murder

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 19. The Opposition LDF members staged a walkout from the Assembly today to protest against the Government's failure to arrest any of the NDF workers involved in the murder of a CPI(M) activist in Punalur on Thursday.

The Opposition walked out after failing in its bid to get the House adjourned to discuss the murder and related issues. Opposing the adjournment motion, the Finance Minister, K. Sankaranarayanan, said the CPI(M) worker, Ashraf, was hacked to death allegedly by a gang of NDF activists who were angry with him for having tried to settle a dispute over an eve-teasing incident.

Mr. Sankaranarayanan, who deputised for the Chief Minister, said the police had registered cases under IPC and the Explosives Act against the accused who had hacked Ashraf at his home after terrorising the local people by throwing country-made explosives. Ashraf died while being taken to hospital. The police had been instructed to nab those responsible for the murder, he added.

Seeking leave for the adjournment motion, the CPI(M) deputy Legislature Party leader, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said the police should own up responsibility for Ashraf's murder. They had information about the armed training that NDF and RSS activists in the area were getting and should have taken preventive measures. Mr. Sankaranarayanan responded that the Government did not approve of any organisation amassing arms. It did not also approve of silly incidents being taken to such levels. The Government had instructed the police to be stern with those who stockpiled arms and indulged in violence, he said.

The Leader of the Opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan, said the Minister's reply did not indicate any seriousness on the part of the Government in arresting the guilty or meeting the threat posed by elements such as RSS and NDF.

K. P. Rajendran (CPI) wanted to know why the Government was reluctant to take firm action against organisations such as the RSS and NDF when it was all too eager to get the CPI(ML), which was a mainstream political organisation, banned by the Centre.

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