ALAPPUZHA: Pandalam MLA K.K. Shaju has alleged that the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) are on a campaign to show that Prasannan of Nooranad died in judicial custody at Mavelikkara recently because of excessive use of liquor.

The MLA has demanded that the Government constitute a judicial inquiry into the issue to find out the reasons for the death.

At a press conference here, Mr. Shaju and Alappuzha District Congress Committee secretary Koshy M. Koshy said Inspector-General of Police (Jails) M.G.A. Raman had informed them on the basis of a post-mortem examination that Prasannan had died of meningitis. That statement was in contradiction with the statement of CPI(M) district secretary P. Sudhakaran and Minister for Cooperation G. Sudhakaran that he died of complications arising out of excessive use of liquor.

Mr. Shaju said that as leader of an action council formed at Nooranad in connection with the death, he and other leaders of the council and the family members of Prasannan did not share the view of Mr. Raman or the CPI (M) leaders.

The MLA said the jail authorities had not allowed the relatives and advocate of Prasannan to visit him in jail, and that was a clear violation of his rights. Moreover, if Mr. Prasannan had meningitis, he had not been given proper medical attention, he added.

Mr. Shaju said the statement of CPI(M) leaders that Prasannan was arrested with five litres of spirit was wrong, and he was arrested while fishing at a nearby pond.

Mr. Shaju said he had information that excise officials who arrested Mr. Prasannan came in a private jeep, and there were anti-social elements along with the officials.

A detailed investigation was necessary to bring out the truth in the case, he added.

Mr. Shaju said the Government should provide compensation to the family of Prasannan. He said the United Democratic Front (UDF) had decided to collect Rs. 2 lakhs from five panchayat areas in the Pandalam Assembly Constituency and hand it over to the family of Prasannan on August 15.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala would hand over the sum, he added

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