ALAPPUZHA: The CPI(M) has ousted 10 members from the party in Mavelikara who have been identified by a party-level inquiry committee as the culprits behind the attack on Leela Abhilash, a councillor of Mavelikara municipality, with `black oil' three months back.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, CPI(M) district secretary G. Sudhakaran said that the party also removed two others from the Mavelikara town local committee in connection with the attack. Mr. Sudhakaran identified the ousted persons as Mavelikara area committee member P.S. Jayakumar, Mavelikara town local committee secretary C. Suresh, party members S. Pradeep, V. Girish, Sunil, K.A. Reghu, S. Prashanth, K.K. Binu, K. Rajesh and D. Mohankumar.

Those who have been removed from the local committee are E.T. Kochucherukkan and K. Varghese. The DYFI also has ousted two members from the organisation, Dhanaraj and Shaju, in connection with the attack.

Mr. Sudhakaran said "they have acted like criminals and have been influenced by the criminal gangs operating in Mavelikara with the covert support of Congress leaders M. Murali, MLA, and KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala."

He said Mrs. Abhilash herself had pointed out that some persons with UDF connections had been involved in the attack.

Mr. Sudhakaran said though Mrs. Abhilash had been ousted from the CPI(M) for contesting the municipal elections without the permission of the party, she had every right to work in mass organisations and hold public office. Though some persons with criminal background who had connection with the UDF were also involved in the attack, cases had not been taken against them. He demanded that they be arrested. Mr. Sudhakaran said the action taken by the CPI(M) against the attackers was a proof of the party's stand against criminalisation of politics.

He challenged the Congress to take action against its party men having a criminal background. Mr. Sudhakaran pointed out that Mahila Congress president Shanimol Usman who was vociferous in her attack on the CPI(M) for the `black oil' attack had been harassed by Congressmen when she was the chairperson of Alappuzha municipality and she could not complete her term. Further, there had been physical attacks against woman Congress leaders in the past by Congressmen following group rivalries. However, the Congress had never taken action against the culprits in such incidents, he pointed out.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail