Court issues summons to Kerala Law Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 7 (UNI) A local court today issued summons to Kerala Law Minister M Vijayakumar and CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, asking them to appear before it in connection with a violent agitation to protest against the police firing on tribals in Muthanga three years ago.

Thiruvananthapuram Chief Judicial Magistrate Jose N Cyril, while hearing a case relating to violent incidents during the agitation, issued summons to the two leaders to appear before the court as they failed to move a leave application or seek bail in the case.

Left parties organised an agitation in the state Capital after a police firing on Advasis at Muthanga Wild Life Sanctury in Wayanad district in 2003, resulting in two deaths. The trouble broke out when the activists pelted stones at the police during a march to the office of the Director General of Police here.

Meanwhile, advocates for the other accused in the case -- Food and Civil Supplies Minister C Divakaran and CPI(M) leader V Sivankutty, MLA -- appeared before the court today.

UNI CR VV VD HT2124