Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday said the government would proceed legally with regard to revelation of CPI (M) Idukki district secretary M.M. Mani that the Left party had eliminated political enemies in the state.
“A senior CPI (M) leader has publicly said the party killed its political adversaries by preparing a list of persons to be killed in 1980s. It is a very important revelation,” Mr. Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.
Indicating that government would take stern steps based on Mr. Mani’s revelation, Mr. Chandy said government would proceed legally what was to be done in the matter.
“One person was shot dead, another beaten to death and the third stabbed, Mr. Chandy said, quoting the statement of Mr. Mani, describing it as a “very crucial disclosure“.
“Government has not asked anybody to leave the state. If someone has left the state on their own, I do not know,” Mr. Chandy said when asked about reports that Mani was “missing” from the district for the last two days.
On the progress of probe in the murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T P Chanrasekheran, Mr. Chandy said the “real” culprits would be brought to book. Several CPI (M) activists had been arrested in connection with the murder.
Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team, constituted after Mr. Mani’s revelation to probe the murder cases in Idukki district, on Wednesday took evidence and statements from the family members of victim Ancheri Baby.
Police had also registered a case against Mr. Mani on charges of murder, abetment and concealing information.
According to police, lodging of an FIR in the case could lead to reopening of the three cases.
At a public meeting organised by CPI (M) at Thodupuzha on Friday last, Mr. Mani had said the party had prepared a list of ’targets’ to be eliminated.
The CPI (M) in the state had distanced itself from Mr. Mani’s speech, with its state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan censuring Mr. Mani saying he had committed a “grave mistake” and deviated from the party line.
In a damage control exercise, Mr. Mani clarified that he was only narrating the sequence of events that happened in Idukki and killing enemies was not the party’s policy.
Mr. Chandy rejected CPI (M)’s allegation that its activists, arrested in connection with Chandrasekharan’s murder, were being tortured in police custody.
No third degree method had been used by police on the accused, he said adding “police were adopting scientific methods to solve the case.”
