Ending the uncertainty that lasted over two weeks, about 25 members of a carol group who were camping inside a parish church in Pathamuttom following an alleged social boycott by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) have decided to return home.
The decision was made during a meeting convened by Kottayam District Collector P.K. Sudheer Babu between representatives of the two factions at his chamber on Saturday. The meeting also decided to hand over the investigation to the district Crime Branch.
Collector’s take
“Both factions have expressed their willingness to put the issues to rest and move on. In the meantime, the police will patrol the area round the clock,” the Collector said. The incident pertained to an alleged attack on the carol group, including women and children, near Pathamuttom on December 23.
How it started
The clash broke out when the carol group sought to question the alleged improper behaviour of a few local youths. It took a violent turn with the accused resorting to stone pelting. Based on a complaint, the police arrested seven youths. They were later granted bail. Despite the arrests, the carol members refused to return to their homes fearing a backlash. The incident drew widespread media attention with the Kerala State Human Rights Commission as well as the Minority Rights Commission intervening.
CPI(M) version
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretary V.N. Vasavan on Saturday called the entire episode a ‘Congress-sponsored event’ and denied the allegations of an attack on the church where the carol group had been camping. He attributed the clash between the two groups to ‘petty local issues.’ “The accused DYFI activists have already been granted bail while the church and its premises have been under the police security ever since the clash broke out,” Mr.Vasavan said.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday visited the Congress activists who were remanded in subjail here following a skirmish with the police in connection with the incident on Friday.
