Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Police affidavit on Karipur incidents flayed

Special Correspondent

Achuthanandan alleges Government attempt to save the guilty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has strongly condemned the affidavit filed by the police in the Kerala High Court claiming that Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) workers were not involved in the violent incidents in connection with a reception accorded to the then Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty at the Karipur airport on November 1, 2004.

Mr. Achuthanandan told a news conference here on Sunday that the police affidavit was proof for the persistent attempt by the Government to save the former Industries Minister, involved in the Kozhikode ice cream parlour sex racket case, and the IUML workers who had shown disrespect to the national flag and mounted a heinous attack on 13 mediapersons who had reached the airport to cover the reception.

Video presentation

The Opposition leader, who had arranged a video presentation on the violence that had taken place at the airport, pointed out that there was no ground on which the police could claim that IUML workers were not involved in the incidents.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had told the Assembly on January 31, 2005, that 13 mediapersons had come under attack from IUML workers and that 208 police officials, including the Superintendent of Police, Malappuram, DySP (Narcotic Cell) and the DySP (Thrissur Range), were present at the airport when the incidents occurred, he recalled. Describing the attack on mediapersons at the Karipur airport the worst ever in the history of the State, Mr. Achuthanandan pointed out that the mediapersons had also given evidence to the police on the disrespect shown to the national flag by IUML workers and the attack on them.The evidence given by mediapersons included the names of six office-bearers of the Youth League, MSF and other feeder organisations of the IUML from Malappuram and Kozhikode. The police had filed the `false' affidavit before the High Court disregarding all these evidences, he said.

TDB controversy

Replying to questions, Mr. Achuthanandan said the allegations raised by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan regarding the Sabarimala development project and the counter-allegations relating to appointments by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) should both be inquired into by an appropriate authority.

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