Spl police squad to look into extremist activities: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 27(UNI) Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan today said a special police squad would be set up to look into the activities of extremist groups in the State.

Addressing the media here after a high-level conference of police officers here, he said the decision was taken in view of the recent attacks by extremists and religious fundamentalist groups in various parts of the country and intelligence reports on possibilities of them spreading their activities in the State also.

The squad, headed by DIG Vinodkumar, would keep vigil and check all extremist activities in the State.

Mr Balakrishnan said the government had also decided to ban all types of'physical exercises' by political parties irrespective of political affiliation in the state.

However, they could conduct such exercises with the permission of police officials after submitting a request in this regard, he said and added that the police officials would have the rights to check the places, if necessary.

The Home Minister disclosed that attacks by the National Development Front (NDF), a Muslim outfit, had ''alarmingly increased'' during the last one year and as many as 101 murder attempt cases were reported during the year.

Quoting records, the Minister said 59 cases of attacks against CPI(M) workers had been reported during the year.

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