Demands CBI probe in custodial death case

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president M.M. Hassan, now on his road show Janamochana Yatra, has called for the arrest of Ernakulam Rural SP A.V. George on murder charges in connection with the custodial death of Sreejith at Varapuzha.

Speaking to media persons here on Friday, Mr. Hassan alleged that the SP was working at the behest of the local CPI(M) leadership and was instrumental in assigning the team under him for the mission, but they had taken the wrong person into custody.

“Now efforts are on to create the impression that they have not taken the wrong person and that the CPI(M) local leadership had no role in the crime,” he alleged and said as the police had been totally politicised, the Congress would demand a CBI investigation.

Mr. Hassan said Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala would stage a 24-hour dharna from 10 a.m. on April 23 to 10 a.m. April 24 at Marine Drive, Kochi, demanding inquiry into the complicity of the CPI(M) in the custodial death. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the dharna. Asked about the Congress stance on truck with the CPI(M), Mr. Hassan said the controversy was being created by the CPI(M) to cover up the factionalism in the party. “The Congress in Kerala will not have any relationship with the CPI(M)in future,’’ he said.

Open invite to Mani

Asked about the Kerala Congress(M) issue, he said the party and the coalition had extended an open invite to K.M. Mani. “ Now it is up to him to decide.”

Referring to the reports on the possible change in the KPCC leadership, Mr. Hassan said such reports had emanated from Kerala and not from Delhi. “Such reports could be generated either by media persons or the needy or those who long for the post,” he said. Mr. Hassan said the change in leadership at the top was only the logical conclusion of the organisational elections which had been carried out.

Asked about the hartal call through social media, Mr. Hassan said those who participated in the agitation were extremist elements that belonged to all parties. “They were all communalists,” he said and added that the agitation pointed to the total failure of police intelligence in the State. “Stringent action should be initiated against the culprits so that no such incident should occur in future,” he said.

Mr. Hassan's road show entered Kottayam district at Kanjirappally and he addressed meetings at Thalyolaparambu and Kottayam.