Date:26/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/26/stories/2008072654190300.htm

Kerala

Chandy, Mani seek judicial probe

Staff Reporter

‘Circumstances of teacher’s death mysterious’

MALAPPURAM: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and Kerala Congress (M) chairman K.M. Mani have demanded a judicial inquiry into the death of James Augustine, headmaster of ALP School, Valillapuzha, during a protest organised by the Muslim Youth League against cluster training of teachers at Kizhisseri last Saturday.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders, who visited the family of Augustine at his house at Thottumukkam in Kozhikode district on Friday evening, said that there was mystery in the death and the circumstances that led to it.

Mr. Chandy and Mr. Mani said that the financial assistance of Rs.5 lakh offered by the government to the headmaster’s family was not enough. They demanded that the government enhance its aid to the family. They also demanded that one of the children of the headmaster should be given employment.

Kerala Congress (M) district president Johny Pallanthanam, vice-president K.T.A. Naseer, Youth Front district president Naser Khan, Urangattiri grama panchayat president A.J. Mathew Alapatt, NGO Front State general secretary P.C. Joseph, and NGO Front district president P.T. Ouseph accompanied the UDF leaders.