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CBI to probe wider conspiracy: Kodiyeri

Special Correspondent

Government to investigate delay in prosecution in first Marad case

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan: Delay to be probed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told the Assembly on Wednesday that the Law Department would inquire into the serious delays that had occurred in the prosecution of the accused in the first massacre at Marad in Kozhikode district.

Replying to the discussion on the report of the judicial commission into the second

Marad massacre, the Minister said that the massacre would not have occurred if there had not been delays in the prosecution of the first case. (Five people had been killed in the first incident in January 2002 and nine in the second incident in May 2003). Fundamentalist elements could ignite communal passions leading to the second massacre because of the delay. Mr. Balakrishnan said that the Government decided on an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) because the Crime Branch had failed to probe the larger conspiracy behind the incident including the involvement of the National Development Front.

He noted that the Assistant Commissioner (Kozhikode South) had failed to act though he had received information about the impending trouble about 15 minutes before the second incident. There had been reduction in the number of men at the police picket at Marad before the incident. The policemen had no weapons and their wireless set was at the wrong place. Besides, the authorities had ignored repeated warnings from the local member of the Assembly P. K. C. Mohammed Koya.

The storage of weapons and training had taken place close to the police picket. Though police had reached the spot in strength after the massacre, they had failed to prevent subsequent looting.

The Commission had said that Muslim League leader Mayin Haji had prior knowledge of the attack. The Minister said that he could not say whether the then Chief Minister A. K. Antony had seen an earlier Intelligence report warning about violence at Marad.

Refuting Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy's contention that no such report had existed, Mr. Balakrishnan said that the report was atthe Intelligence headquarters. Winding up the discussion, Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan noted that the CBI inquiry had been ordered as per the recommendation of the Commission.

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