The fast by Congress leader K. Sudhakaran here since February 19 demanding the arrest of all accused in the murder of Youth Congress activist S.P. Shuhaib will continue till the State government recommends a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case. This was announced by Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala at the venue of the fast in front of the Collectorate here on Thursday after a meeting of the UDF leadership, attended by, among others, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president M.M. Hassan, and Indian Union Muslim League leader P.K. Kunhalikutty, MP.
He said the parents of Shuhaib handed over to him a representation demanding CBI investigation. He sent the representation to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and State Police Chief (SPC) Loknath Behera with a covering letter.
“Shuhaib’s parents believe that only a CBI probe can bring the real accused before the law,” he said adding the District Police Chief’s reported leave of absence on the day of the arrest of two Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers and party district secretary P. Jayarajan’s statement on the party’s own investigation into the case had cast doubts about a fair probe into the murder.
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The UDF leadership completely endorsed the demand of Shuhaib’s parents, he said. Referring to Minister for Cultural Affairs A.K. Balan’s announcement after the peace meeting here on February 21 that the government would consider any request for a CBI probe, the Leader of the Opposition said if the government refused the demand for a CBI investigation, the UDF would initiate political and legal efforts in this regard. He said the fund-raising initiative to help the family of Shuhaib launched at various centres in the district drew huge response from the public.
Mr. Chandy said that if the government had an open mind on the investigation, it should have ordered the CBI investigation within hours of receiving the request of Shuhaib’s parents. The party would go to any extent to continue the struggle for justice, he said. Mr. Kunhalikutty said the agitation was to free the State from the culture of political violence.
MLAs K.C. Joseph, and M.K. Muneer, AICC secretary P.C. Vishnunath, Kerala Congress leader Johnny Nellore, and Congress leader Benny Behanan were present.
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