The Hindu : Karunakaran for probe into Marad violence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Karunakaran for probe into Marad violence

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JUNE 23. The veteran Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, today demanded an independent inquiry into the Marad violence.

Addressing a face-to-face programme, organised by the Kesari Journalist Trust, Mr. Karunakaran said the independent inquiry should be instituted in such a way that it was acceptable to both sections in Marad.

He pointed out that one section had expressed its reservations about the Crime Branch inquiry, currently on, while the other section does not have faith in the CBI, as it was a central agency (controlled by the BJP-led NDA Government).

He said that the law and order situation was yet to return to normality.

Mr. Karunakaran disclosed that he had spoken to the Chief Minister over the phone on the Marad issue.

Following this, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, M. M. Hassan, had called on him as the Chief Minister's representative.

He had discussed the matter with Mr. Hassan and had conveyed his impressions about Marad, after his visit there on Sunday.

Mr. Karunakaran said that he had held discussions with the IUML leader, E. Ahmed, on various issues.

In reply to a question on what kind of independent inquiry he had in mind, Mr. Karunakaran said he would disclose it if the concerned people were prepared to give him the powers to at least mention it.

In any case, the independent inquiry should train its spotlight on the forces which were behind the violence.

He said that the Chief Minister had admitted to his failure when he stated in the Assembly that the Government was yet to carry out the rehabilitation work.

Mr. Karunakaran said that there were times when a single lock-up death used to create a huge furore in the State.

"Today, there is hardly any reaction when the Chief Minister disclosed in the Assembly that 82 persons had died in the lock-up and that 64 incidents of communal violence had taken place during the last two years,'' he observed.

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