Violence continues to rock Nadapuram

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE, JUNE 4. Violence continued to rock the Nadapuram region today and police had to open fire in at least two places to scare away violent CPI(M) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) supporters.

The entire region is tense and normal life has been paralysed. At Paikkilangadi under Thottilpalam police station limits, three IUML workers were injured when a country bomb thrown at them exploded. Two of them had been admitted to a hospital in Kuttiadi and one to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, police said.

Reports spoke of a violent mob opening fire at the police with countrymade guns. There were clear indications pointing to determined efforts to unleash violence.

At one place, the police had to throw grenades to force a violent crowd to retreat after firing in the air failed to have the desired effect. Police squads led by the Superintendent of Police (Rural), Mr. Chandran, had to resort to lathicharge at some places.

There were several incidents of arson and attacks on shops and buildings owned by the CPI(M) and IUML workers. The tension sparked off by the killing of Binu, DYFI worker, on Saturday exploded into violence in many places today and it appeared to be spreading to panchayats in the neighbourhood of the Nadapuram police station limits.

Police authorities said that they had to fire three rounds in the air at Valayalam to disperse a mob of Marxist supporters. Later, the police fired two more rounds to scare away a mob of IUML workers. The police said that firing had to be resorted to in self-defence since the mob was armed with country bombs. Violence has been reported from other parts of the Nadapuram police station limits. Incidents of arson have been reported from Purameri, Kunnummel, Edacherry, Ayancherry, Maruthongara and Kunnummel. At Cherumoth alone, about 15 houses belonging to Marxist supporters have been torched.

The CPI(M) district secretary, Mr. M. Kelappan, today blamed ``the IUML and its militant elements'' for riots that are rocking Nadapuram. He said that his party workers had been maintaining self-restraint despite provocation from IUML workers. There was no retaliation though nearly 25 houses belonging to Marxists had been burnt down on April 11 and 12, he said.

Yet, Binu, a Marxist supporter, was murdered in broad daylight on Saturday. This had led to a breakdown in law and order. There was a calculated attempt to disrupt Binu's funeral.

This was evident from the fact that bombs were thrown at women and children who had lined up along the roadside to have a glimpse of the slain youth, he said.

The CPI(M) leader expressed serious reservations about the statements made by the KPCC president, Mr. K. Muralidharan, and the Health Minister, Mr. P. Sankaran.

Mr. Muralidharan is reported to have said that the violence in Nadapuram was a ploy resorted to by Marxists to divert attention from the rout it had suffered in the recent Assembly election. Mr. Sankaran was quoted as saying that Congressmen would be forced to seek ways to defend themselves if the police failed to quell the ``Marxist violence.''

Mr. Kelappan said that Mr. Muralidharan's statement was unbecoming of the office he held and Mr. Sankaran's comments were nothing but an open call to his supporters to take up arms.

The CPI(M) leader reiterated his party's resolve to bring back normality to Nadapuram and appealed to all sections of people to contribute to the party's efforts to restore peace.

IUML cries foul

The district secretary of IUML, Mr. P.K.K. Bava, demanded urgent steps to stem the riots in Nadapuram. There was reason to suspect that the murder of a CPI(M) youth was part of a conspiracy to create law and order problems and go on a looting spree, he said.

A call for peace has also been made by the Nadapuram MLA and CPI leader, Mr. Binoy Viswam.

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