The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has demanded that the State government bring to book the culprits behind the arson and looting in Thooneri and its adjoining areas in the aftermath of the murder of a Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activist M. Shibin by an armed gang at Vellur near Nadapuram in the district last week.
Addressing a news conference here on Thursday, the SDPI State president K.M. Ashraf said that as many as 73 houses belonging to the Muslim community came under attack. Of this, 40 had been destroyed.
Miscreants looted about 750 sovereigns of gold ornaments meant for marriage and set ablaze vehicles, school certificates, clothes, Aadhar cards and other documents and household utensils.
Only womenfolk were present in most of the houses as a majority of the male members were employed in Gulf countries. Law enforcing agencies arrived late even though the victims sought assistance from the police and fire stations, Mr. Ashraf alleged.
The SDPI, the political arm of the Popular Front of India (PFI), will picket the National Highway on February 5, in protest against the incidents. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala should seriously view the issue and visit the region.
Mr. Ashraf also alleged that these incidents had taken place with the clandestine support of the police.
The rioting had resulted in the Thooneri block panchayat standing committee member C.P. Abdul Salam of the CPI(M) resigning from the post.
He alleged that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) along with the CPI (M) had always been trying to polarise the communities on religious lines whenever an incident occurred in Nadapuram.
Similarly, he urged the Home Department to take disciplinary action against the police officers involved in supporting the riots. An officer in the rank of the Inspector General of Police should carry out an inquiry. The victims should be rehabilitated and adequately compensated, he said.
