Southern States - Kerala   

CBI probe into Marad massacre sought

By our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE MAY 20. A State-level convention of leaders of Hindu organisations held here today has expressed lack of confidence in the ongoing Crime Branch inquiry into the Marad massacre and demanded that the probe be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A resolution adopted by the convention alleged that terrorist outfits having inter-State links were behind the massacre and details of training given to the criminals involved in the ghastly crime had to be exposed.

The members of the managing committee of the Marad mosque from where deadly weapons were seized had not been arrested. Under these circumstances, the Crime Branch would not be able to conduct an effective probe.

The meeting squarely blamed the State Government in general and the Police Department in particular for the massacre. In another resolution, the convention expressed the view that the IUML Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, resign since he was in charge of the failed peace restoration process in Marad after the riots there in 2002.

Mr. Kunhalikutty could not evade moral responsibility for the recent riots as even while he was leading the peace restoration process, weapons were being stocked in the Marad mosque to launch another attack. The convention also passed a resolution demanding steps for the rehabilitation of Hindu families that had fled coastal areas of Malappuram districts to escape attacks in the past. The families of the recent victims of Marad violence, Pushparajan and Santhosh, had settled in Marad after their families fled from Tanur beach nearly 15 years ago because of constant threats. There were 15 such Hindu families in Marad alone.

The convention also expressed the view that the compensation awarded by the Government to families of those killed in the violence was insufficient. Many among the injured were unable to go fishing, which was the means of their livelihood. Compensation to the tune of Rs. 10 lakhs to each of the families was demanded in another resolution.

Resolutions asking the CPI(M) to expel from its fold party workers who had been arrested for involvement in the Marad and calling for unity among members of the Hindu community were also adopted by the convention.

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