Provide compensation for custodial deaths: Congress

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 30 (UNI) Expressing serious concern over the increased incidents of custodial deaths, the Congress in Kerala today urged the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government in the state to provide adequate compensation to the victims' families and take stringent action against policemen responsible for such incidents.

The KPCC executive, which met here, also called for the early completion of the judicial probe ordered by the government into custodial deaths by consulting the Opposition on the terms of reference.

Briefing mediapersons afterwards PCC President Ramesh Chennithala said the meeting seriously viewed the unabated suicides by debt-ridden farmers and condemned the ''failure'' of the government in taking preventive steps by providing relief to them.

On the professional college issue, he said Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy had presented certain proposals before the government to settle through consensus.

Admission to professional courses this year should be based on the formula of 50 per cent merit seats and 50 per cent management quota. In the merit quota, the fees should be on par with that of the fees existed in government-run professional colleges. The issue could be settled amicably if the government accepted the proposals, Mr Ramesh claimed.

The meeting called upon the government to take immediate steps to check price-rise. It also wanted effective measures to check illicit distillation and sale of spurious liquor.

The executive constituted a sub-committee headed by former Water Resources Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan to study the Mullaperiyar issue and submit proposals on the safety of the 110-year-old Mullaperiyar dam.

UNI PMM JJ VD RK1530