HC for Centre's intervention to halt Kannur carnage

Kochi, Mar 11: The Kerala High Court today observed that the only solution to political murders in Thalasserry in Kannur district of the state appeared to be timely intervention by the Centre with deployment of sufficient forces who will not yield to those in power and out of power.

Justice V Ramakumar made this observation while allowing a petition seeking a direction to transfer the case pertaining to the killing of one Md Fazal in Thalasserry in 2006 to the CBI. The judge further said it was hoped that there would be a gubernatorial move to apprise the Centre of the urgent need for permanent action to curb further bloodshed and killings in Kannur district where manslaughter seemed to be a competitive sport.

The petition was filed by victim Md Fazal's wife Maniya, who was an agent for 'Tejus' newspaper. Faizal was killed in Thalasserry on October 22, 2006.

The judge also observed that Thalasserry taluk had, over the years, become a hotbed of political violence and carnage of the worst order. All political parties seemed to freely indulge in violence.

What was surprising was that the otherwise friendly people of the area turned mad when the matter came to politics. ''Very cunningly, the leaders of the parties escape unhurt in this cruel and bloodthirsty game,'' the judge observed.

UNI