Thiruvananthapuram: CPI insists on fair probe into killings

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPI has scaled up attack its on the police on the encounter killings of four Maoists in Palakkad and demanded a fair probe into the episode.

CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran reiterated that his party was firm on its position against encounter killings. “The CPI has only one stand on the Maoists issue since 1967,” he said.

The CPI leader said though the police had released video footage of the incidents that took place in Palakkad, the party decided to send a delegation to the spot to study the circumstances that led to the alleged encounter.

“The police says many things but our delegation has gone to the spot to understand the facts and tell the truth to the people,” Mr Rajendran said. “It is not the question of what we believe or what we don’t. The idea is to examine the situation on the ground.”

CPI state executive member P. Prasad reiterated the party’s demand for a fair probe after his visit to the encounter sight in Palakkad. “From what we have understood after talking to local residents and examining the spot, our preliminary assessment is that it was a fake encounter,” he said while speaking to reporters right on the spot. The government should take immediate steps to conduct a detailed probe, he said.

Referring to the spot where Manivasakan was shot dead, Mr Prasad said the slain Maoist had fractured legs and was not able to walk. He lay in a pool of blood with bullet wounds on the head and shoulder. This has raised serious doubts about the encounter, he said.

“The Maoists have been in that area for many days. They have not tortured or threatened any one. Normally we fear Maoists because they harm or kill people.

So the big question is who was under threat from them,’’ he said.