Cabinet approves ATR on Marad killings

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 20 (UNI) The Kerala Cabinet today approved the Action Taken Report (ATR) of the Home Department on the findings of the Justice Joseph P Thomas Commission which inquired into the May two, 2003 Marad incident in which nine people were massacred.

The Commission's findings and the ATR would be presented during the ongoing assembly session, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told mediapersons after a Cabinet meeting.

Asked whether action had been recommended against certain officials, the chief minister said he could not reveal anything on the Commission's findings or the ATR before they were presented to the assembly.

The Cabinet decided to provide employment to the daughter of Yogi, the tribal killed in police firing at Muthanga in Wynad District during the previous A K Antony government.

She would be employed as lower division clerk in the Revenue Department subject to the approval of the State Public Service Commission. Besides, Yogi's family would be given an assistance of Rs two lakh.

The Cabinet also decided to provide an asistance of Rs five lakh to Pushpan who was seriously injured in police firing at Koothuparamba, during the previous regime.

Mr Achuthanandan said Rs five lakh had been allocated to Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Kozhikode districts where incidence of Chikungunya was reported.

The ''Kerala Formation Day'' would be celebrated with various programmes for 50 days from November one for which Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur Districts would be allocated Rs three lakh and other districts Rs one lakh each.

UNI PMM GM MS VC2232