The Hindu : Kerala News : UDF to stage dharna against violence

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Thursday, Dec 13, 2007
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Kerala

UDF to stage dharna against violence

Staff Reporter

In front of Dy.SP office on December 17

Accuses CPI(M) of instigating violence
UDF to approach human rights panel

KASARAGOD: The United Democratic Front (UDF) will organise a dharna before the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), Kanhangad, on December 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to protest against violence in certain areas of Kanhangad and Uduma.

We will demand strict action against those who instigate the violence, UDF district chairman Cherkalam Abdulla and convener P. Gangadharan Nair said here on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference here, they said the police remained mere spectators when attackers vandalised schools, institutions of the Jama-ath and houses and shops of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) workers.

Mr. Abdulla alleged that the attackers were CPI (M) workers. The leaders said the UDF would boycott all public functions of Uduma MLA K.V. Kunhiraman, a CPI(M) man.

Mr. Abdulla alleged that Mr. Kunhiraman, who was supposed to act impartially as the MLA, was supporting the violence. The UDF leaders said the opinion of the District Superintendent of Police that there were reasons to doubt that some extremist organisations were also behind the violence was a ploy to divert attention from the real issue. He said the UDF would approach State Human Rights Commission to find a solution to the problems faced by victims of CPI(M) attack. The State government should compensate for the losses, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kunhiraman denied any involvement on his part in alleged attack on IUML workers. He said he had tried to pacify his party workers who had to bear the brunt of the violence unleashed by IUML cadres. Mr. Kunhiraman said it was the IUML which started violence in Uduma and Kanhangad. He said he had camped in violence-hit areas and tried to help authorities bring the situation under control. Though the CPI (M) had the strength to resist attacks on party workers it had exercised restraint, he added.

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