Southern States - Kerala   

Communal situation can go out of hand

By Roy Mathew

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MAY 8. The communal situation in Kerala is not out of hand. However, it will soon be, if the Government does not act strongly and decisively.

The record of the Government in containing communal trouble so far has not been commendable. This was in sharp contrast to the record of the LDF Government which had managed to keep a tight leash on communal developments. During the five years of the LDF rule, no major communal incidents had occurred because the Government minced no words about its determination to check communal trouble and backed its words with action.

On the other hand, the present Government often adopted a softline towards communalists while making high decibel statements against communalism. It was in open liaison with parties such as the People's Democratic Party (PDP). This encouraged communal elements.

The massacre of nine persons at Marad in Kozhikode is the fourth major incident after the present Government came to power. In scale, it was unprecedented.

The first major Hindu Muslim clashes after the present Government came to power occurred at Marad and Pathanamthitta. In the incident that happened at Marad in January 2002, five persons had been killed. At Pathanamthitta, considerable destruction of property, including that of the BJP, occurred. Some Christian shops were also attacked. Attackers included persons belonging to various political parties, but most were activists of the National Democratic Front. During the same year, clashes occurred between Muslim and Christian fishermen on the Thiruvananthapuram coast. There were also a number of relatively minor incidents.

Though more than a year has passed after the earlier incidents at Marad and Pathanamthitta, the police are yet to file chargesheets. A large number of people are accused in those cases. According to the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, it was a `technical hitch' that had stalled the filing of chargesheets.

In 2001, the Government had promised quick and stern action and promised setting up of special courts to try the cases. However, this promise was not kept. The Chief Minister is now talking of fast track courts. He is also repeating promises that none would be spared. What is to be seen now is that whether these would also end up to be empty words.

The nature of the operations at Marad now suggests that masterminds and financiers were behind the attack. The scale of mobilisation of weapons and bombs (about 300 swords and other weapons along with dozens of bombs have so far been unearthed) suggest that there were plans for more or bigger attacks. The situation will not be contained unless the masterminds and financiers are apprehended.

The situation is likely to take a turn for the worse if the Government fails to punish the guilty this time also. Already, there are reports about business interests behind the incident. Mafia gangs, who are willing to attack and murder people, are growing in several cities in the State. There are widespread activities of fundamentalist organisations of various hues throughout Kerala. The hands of Pakistani intelligence are to be suspected. These could turn into a deadly combination, if they find that the soil is fertile for the kind of activities they are comtemplating.

The police intelligence and follow-up action seem to be failing in the absence of a strong political will. The guidelines, reissued by the Government after last year's incidents, had specified that the activities of communal organisations fomenting communal trouble should be under the constant watch of intelligence and police authorities. Prompt action should be taken against them at the first sign of trouble.

The guidelines also emphasised the need for setting up special intelligence units for tracking communal problems. "Special training should be imparted to the personnel manning these units so as to ensure proper systematic and timely feedback of requisite information to the concerned authorities. The staff of this special branch should be fanned out among various police stations, particularly in sensitive pockets,'' the order said.

However, much of this remain on paper. There were some attempts to go high-tech through phone tapping and use of listening devices. The police appeared to be lacking in human intelligence and analysis.

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