THRISSUR: The murder of tribal youth Madhu of Attappadi was a hot topic of discussion among the delegates of the CPM state conference here on Friday andSaturday. Tribal welfare minister A.K. Balan and Palakkad MP M.B. Rajesh faced the ire of the delegates for their late reactions on the murder that occurred on Thursday afternoon, sources said. Mr Balan had said on Friday that the mob attack on the mentally ill youth would be discussed after the state conference. Mr Rajesh had said that he knew about the incident very late as he was busy at the conference.
After facing severe criticism from the delegates on Friday, they both rushed to Thrissur Medical College on Saturday morning where the body of Madhu was kept for post-mortem. Health minister K.K. Shailaja also reached the MCH before noon. However, none of the ministers or Mr Rajesh were present at Attappadi for the funeral. CPM MLAs A. Babu (Nenmara) and K. Vijaydas (Kongad) represented the party when the body was kept for the public to pay their last respects near the police station complex at Agali on Saturday afternoon. Mr Balan, who will visit the tribal settlement of the deceased youth at Chindakiyoor, said on Saturday that the murder was a shame on Kerala.
