The Hindu : Front Page : Kottayam hartal peaceful

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 28, 2007
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Kottayam hartal peaceful

Staff reporter

Four in judicial custody in connection with ASI’s death

Deserted: The Kottayam town during the hartal called by major political formations on Saturday.

KOTTAYAM: A dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the United Democratic Front and Sangh Parivar organisations in Kottayam district in connection with the developments that led to the killing of an officer of the State police on duty passed off peacefully on Saturday. The hartal was complete and only two-wheelers and a few private cars were seen on the road.

All the three political formations took out protest marches in various places in the district, including Changanassery.

Assistant sub-inspector M.C. Elias was killed while trying to disperse a mob of students on the NSS Hindu College campus at Changanassery.

Speaking to mediapersons at Changanassery, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the investigation into Friday’s incidents should not be prejudiced. The Opposition wanted a transparent and honest investigation that will bring the real culprits to book.

The Opposition leader alleged that there was a major failure on the part of the police in containing the student violence on the campus which had been building up after the college union election of October 18. He accused the police of siding with the Students Federation of India (SFI) in perpetrating violence and alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had unleashed a reign of terror on the campuses through the SFI. The events that led to the killing of the police officer brought out the fascist tendencies in both the SFI and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad. He wanted the government to increase the compensation announced for the family of the police officer to Rs.15 lakh from the Rs.6 lakh.

Addressing a rally organised by the LDF, its convener Vaikom Viswan said that outside forces were behind the events that led to the death of the police officer. The incident was premeditated and it was part of a strategy being planned by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he said. That the police could nab the culprits within a short span of time points to the efficiency of the police force, he added.

Judicial remand

Meanwhile, four persons whose arrests were recorded on Friday night in connection with the killing were remanded in judicial custody by the First Class Judicial Magistrate Court, Changanassery, before whom they were produced on Saturday evening . The four are Biju (24), Thuruthikadavu Ampyil, Payippad; Manoj Kurup (20), Bungalamkunnu, Karukachal; Jyothish (19), Nethallur; and Vipin (18), Mangattukadavu, Alappuzha.

All the four accused, while deposing before the court, said the police had used third degree methods. The first accused Biju, who suffered nasal bleeding, said he was not in a position even to sign the document. On his prayer, the court directed the police to ensure medical attention for him. Biju was taken to Kottayam Medical College Hospital in the evening. The fourth accused Jyothish said he was an epileptic patient and had undergone a major surgery at Sri Chitra Thirunal Insititute of Medical Sciences and Technology a few months back and was under treatment under the supervision of a neurosurgeon at Kottayam Medical College Hospital. The four have been sent the Kottayam sub-jail.

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