RSS worker murder: Governor summons CM Pinarayi Vijayan, SPC Loknath Behera

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an unprecedented move, Governor P. Sathasivam summoned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and State Police Chief Loknath Behera to apprise himself about the law and order breakdown in the state capital. The Chief Minister assured the Governor that he would soon call a meeting with BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan and RSS state leaders and would also make a public call to maintain peace. He also briefed the Governor about the action being taken by the police to nab the culprits and prevent retaliations. The Governor subsequently appraised Union home minister Rajnath Singh about the situations and measures taken by the state government, a statement from Raj Bhavan said.

Sources said that the Governor summoned the Chief Minister and the State Police Chief to get a real feel of the situation and actions being taken. Earlier this year the Governor had written to the state seeking opinion on BJP’s demand to impose Armed Forces Special Powers Act following Kannur violence. “There was no recent instance of a Governor summoning the Chief Minister in view of law and order issues. The recent attacks on houses of CPM-BJP leaders, killing of RSS activist and police inaction during attack by a CPM councillor at BJP state office have invited widespread criticism of law and order breakdown and hence the Governor summoned the Chief Minister and State Police Chief as he may have to give reports to the centre," said government sources.

According to the statement from Raj Bhavan, the Chief Minister assured the Governor that law breakers would be sternly dealt with, irrespective of their status or political affiliation. The State Police Chief later called on the Governor and briefed him about the arrests made and the actions being taken to maintain law and order. The Governor also spoke to Mr. Kummanam Rajasekharan about the political murder and the attack on the BJP state office and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan about the attack on his son's house.