Southern States
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Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram
Separate agency to probe fundamentalist activities
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 11. The State Government has drawn up an ambitious plan to constitute a separate agency besides seeking the support of the Central intelligence agencies to detect fundamentalist activities taking place in the State.
Formation of an exclusive agency to conduct a comprehensive probe into the violent incidents experienced in the last couple of days is also on the cards as part of the proposal to find out the real culprits behind the riots during the hartal.
According to highly-placed sources, it has come to the notice of the State Government, following reports from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), that fundamentalist and anti-national forces were operating in some of the remotest areas in several districts.
It is also widely accepted that the violent incidents that occurred during the hartal was a pre-planned affair and the handiwork of an organisation to destroy the communal amity in the State.
There were also intelligence reports citing that an organisation wanted to create a riot-like situation during the Sabarimala-Ramadan festival season.
And Pathanamthitta was chosen as target for the `pilot project'.
Sources said that the incidents were a test-dose to examine the real strength of the organisation and its networking activities in the State.
Earlier, the Central intelligence agencies had forwarded reports suggesting that explosive weapons were tested in some isolated places in Manjeri and Arikode in Malappuram district a few months ago prior to the scheming in Pathanamthitta on the `Babri Masjid Day'.
But the State Government ignored these warnings without taking any preventive measure and dilly-dallied with the confidential report.
A copy of the report was also sent to the Union Government at the same time.
Sources said that the arrests of the accused in the Pathanamthitta riots had also revealed the intentions of the organisation behind the vandalism.
There were also plans to attack some of the other places in Central Travancore districts. But they were either foiled or the organisation scuttled the idea at the last moment.
Another significant step likely to be taken in this direction is the creation of a marine police force to work in tandem with the Coast Guards.
This is in view of the rampant dumping of explosive materials along the coastal belt of the State. Weapons seized from an autorickshaw in Pathanamthitta and Shivapuram in Kannur indicated that coastal areas had become the hot spots for carrying on illegal activities.
In fact, explosives were being brought from Mangalore and Kasaragod to be distributed to various parts of the State, sources said.
Meanwhile, the BJP State general secretary, Mr. P. P. Mukundan, met the Chief Minister, Mr. A. K. Antony, at the latter's chamber in the capital on Tuesday.
Sources said that the two were closeted for an hour, discussing the present situation in the State. The BJP leader is understood to have promised total cooperation to the State Government in sternly dealing with the fundamentalist forces which were attempting to create a wedge between the two different communities.
Mr. Mukundan, is learnt to have also sought for the deployment of the CRPF at some of the religious places, including Sabarimala, Guruvayur and Sivagiri in the wake of the violent incidents.
He demanded that the State Government ban the NDF as well as implement the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) in the State.
He also asked Mr. Antony to tell Muslim spiritual leaders not to entertain the `fundamentalists' utilising the mosque for anti-social activities.
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