The Hindu : Kerala News : Marad panel to examine five journalists

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Sunday, Apr 18, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Marad panel to examine five journalists

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, APRIL 17. Five journalists will be examined by the Marad Judicial Inquiry Commission in connection with its probe into the massacre on Marad beach here on May 2, 2003.

At a sitting here today, the Commission, Thomas P. Joseph, issued orders to examine the Malayala Manorama Bureau Chief, The Hindu Special Correspondent, the Varthamanam Bureau Chief, the Deshabhimani Bureau Chief and the Kala Kaumudi Editor-in-Chief on April 28.

The orders have been issued based on the articles they had written on the Marad incident in which nine persons were killed and several others injured. The Commission also decided to examine the Minister for Industries and Information Technology, P.K. Kunhalikutty and the CPI(M) State secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, after the general elections in the State on May 10.

Meanwhile, the examination of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) State organising secretary, Kummanam Rajashekaran, continued for the second day today. It concluded only at 7-30 p.m.

Deposing before the Commission, Mr. Rajashekaran said that terrorist outfits had been active for a very long period in the State.

During discussions, the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, had been apprised of the terrorist activities. But he did not respond to the suggestion to take steps to curb their activities, he charged.

He also alleged that the Islamic Sevak Sangh (ISS) had been one of the foremost terrorist outfits based in the State. Later the organisation metamorphosed into a political outfit - the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

He opined that the National Development Front (NDF) be banned in the State.

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