Take stringent measure to keep peace in Kannur: Cong

Kannur, Mar 9 (UNI) Kerala Pradesh Congress President Ramesh Chennithala today urged the State Government to take stringent measures to maintain law and order in Thalassery which saw seven political murders last week.

Alleging that the government had failed to take stringent action against criminals and in curbing violence, he demanded the deployment of Central forces to put an end to political murders in Kannur.

Mr Chennithala said this while inaugurating the day-long hunger strike of Opposition Leader in the Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy here in protest against the violence in this district.

The police under State Home Minister Kodeyeri Balakrishnan had become inactive, he alleged. Moreover, the Home Minister visited the place only days after the political murders, he claimed.

He also alleged CPI(M) State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan was keeping silent, which was a ''kind of justification to the political murders of the CPI(M) and the RSS activists.'' A people's convention was necessary for bringing in peace to the district, Mr Chennithala said and added the Congress and the United Democratic Front would extend all support to restore peace in Thalasery.

During the Congress-led UDF rule, all steps were taken to prevent such incidents in the district, he said.

UDF Convenor P P Thankachan, IUML Leader P K Kunhalikutty, Kerala Congress (B) Leader R Balakrishna Pillai and CMP Leader M V Raghavan were among those present.

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