Kerala - Kollam   

Centre had cautioned Kerala on Malappuram, Beemapally

KOLLAM: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs recently cautioned Kerala about grave law and order in Malappuram district and in the Beemapally area of Thiruvananthapuram city, a “secret” document, which The Hindu now has access to, shows.

In a message to the Director General of Police and the Principal Secretary (Home), Kerala, Director of Internal Security II in the Union Ministry P. K. Mishra said there was virtually no policing in Malappuram district. In Thiruvanathapuram, police feared to venture into the Beemapally area, it said.

The Ministry wanted the DGP and the Principal Secretary to ensure that no part of the State was beyond the effective jurisdiction of police.

The message, marked ‘secret’, was sent on February 27, 2009 as a follow-up to an internal security review meeting with respect to Kerala that was convened by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in Kollam on February 9, 2009. He was in Kollam chiefly to inaugurate the first coastal police station at Neendakara near here.

The message noted that Mr. Chidambaram, on learning about the situation in Malappuram and Beemapally, had stated that such a situation pointed to a grave deficiency. The message directed the Intelligence Bureau and the intelligence wing of the State police to gather more information on the activities of the Hyderabad-based Noorisha Tareekath. Though a religious organisation, it appeared to have been infiltrated by some left wing extremists, it said. Beemapallyis known for its market of smuggled and foreign goods.

Talking to The Hindu about the contents of the message, a top police officer said that against such a backdrop, the disciplinary action initiated against police officers and the judicial probe ordered in connection with the Cheriathura police firing on May 17 had confused the police force of the State.

Policemen were suspended in spite of the fact that a top level police report into the incident had justified the firing, the officer said. As per that report, the mob not only had bombs but even bomb launchers and these had been recovered.

He also said that the MHA had now asked for the details on the Cheriathura firing and the same would be submitted soon by the State police.

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