The Hindu : Kerala News : Bloodstains found on weapons seized from Cherukol

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Bloodstains found on weapons seized from Cherukol

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

The police suspect a larger conspiracy

PRIZE CATCH: The lethal weapons recovered from the bushes on the banks of the Pampa at Cherukol in Pathanamthitta district.

PATHANAMTHITTA: The recent seizure of lethal weapons from an isolated area on the banks of the Pampa at Cherukol, near Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta district, is likely to have a wider ramification in the State's socio-political spheres.

The Aranmula police recovered 11 long swords, which can be used both as a stick and a knife, and eight daggers on the night of April 18.

Tip-off

The seizure was effected following a tip-off received by Kozhencherry Circle Inspector, R. Chandrashekharan.

The police raid party found the weapons hidden in the bushes in a well-packed jute bag.

District Superintendent of Police Varghese George and Deputy Superintendent C.G. Sureshkumar inspected the spot and the seizures were sent for scientific examination.

Police sources told The Hindu that bloodstains were found on the weapons in the scientific examination. The sources said 16 of the 19 weapons that were recovered had bloodstains on it, indicating that certain anti-social groups had dumped the weapons in the bushes after carrying out `criminal operations.'

The recovery of weapons from an otherwise peaceful belt of Pathanamthitta has surprised many in the police department.

They suspect it to have a close link with recent incidents of violence that rocked certain communally sensitive areas in the State.

Pathanamthitta too had witnessed arson and violence in December, 2001.

There were Intelligence reports of different groups of religious fundamentalists infiltrating into socio-political organisations in the State.

There were also reports that certain fundamentalist outfits were covertly organising training camps for their `cadres' in certain remote hilly areas of the district adjoining the forests.

"However, apart from condemning the brutal acts and ordering a judicial probe, besides deploying a large posse of police force and arresting of a few persons as `accused,' no effective and long-term measures were initiated by the successive Governments," say the local people.

Mafia links

There have also been reports that the sand and spirit mafia have strong roots in the district owing to the alleged patronage from different socio-political and official circles.

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