Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that the State Cabinet will take a decision on the demand for ordering a judicial inquiry into the incidents of violence at Kasaragod on November 15 in which two people were killed, including one in police firing, and several others were injured including many police personnel.
Speaking to reporters at Kasaragod on Tuesday, the Minister said that the incidents had been caused by failure on the part of the police. Referring to the Indian Union Muslim League leader P.K. Kunhalikutty's allegation that the intruders into the IUML's public function had instigated violence, the Minister said that the police would also investigate that angle if the IUML could produce any evidence to establish its charge. The government is ready for any kind of probe, he added.
Mr. Balakrishnan visited different parts of the town where the police and the IUML workers had clashed on Sunday evening. He was accompanied by Additional Director General of Police Ashok Kumar Singhla, Inspector General of Police (Kannur Range) Tomin J. Thachankari, Kozhikode city police Commissioner S. Sreejith and Kasaragod Superintendent of Police Ramdas Pothan.
UDF delegation visits Kasaragod
A fact-finding delegation of the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by Janata Dal leader M.P. Veerendrakumar visited Kasaragod on Tuesday to collect facts regarding the incidents in Kasaragod on November 15. They visited the new bus stand area where the trouble had started and Karanthakkad where 20-year old Ashar was stabbed to death. They also visited the houses of Ashar and Shafeeq, who had been killed in police firing.
MLAs Abdul Rahman Randathani, Joseph M. Puthussery, K.K. Shaju and C.T. Ahamedali as well as UDF leaders A. Sujanapal, Kodoth Govindan Nair, Shahida Kamal and Cherkalam Abdulla formed part of the delegation.
BJP seeks probe into conspiracy angle
Bharatiya Janata Party State president P.K. Krishnadas said that the incidents in Kasaragod were suspected to have been part of a conspiracy. Speaking at a press conference in Kasaragod on Tuesday, Mr. Krishnadas said that people who had turned up to attend the public reception function organised by the Indian Union Muslim League were not expected to create troubles. The attacks on the day were apparently aimed at instigating communal violence in the town, he said. The police should investigate whether any extremist elements were involved in the incidents, he added.
