KOZHIKODE: Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Sunday said there is no need for the NIA to take over the case relating to the attack on a lecturer, allegedly by radical outfit Popular Front of India, since probe by state police was progressing in the right direction.
"Investigation into the case by police is moving in the right direction. The present investigation team has collected vital evidence with regard to the case," he told reporters here.
In response to a PIL, the National Investigation Agency had in a statement filed before the Kerala High Court, said the attack on Lecturer T J Joseph did not come under its purview.
It had been set up to investigate crimes relating to terrorism and anti-national activities, the agency said.
Joseph was attacked on July 4 at Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district and his right hand chopped off for preparing a question paper which allegedly contained derogatory references to Prophet Mohammad.
On UDF constituent JSS leader K R Gouri Amma's criticism of Congress party, Balakrishnan said "not only JSS but also many more in the UDF are dejected."
Gouri Amma had recently lashed out at Congress accusing it of working against the "genuine interests" of partners in the UDF in which her party Janadhipatya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS) is a constituent.
"Gouri Amma is an experienced leader and is capable of taking her own decisions," he said in response to a query.
Expressing hope that the Adivasi land rights problem in Wayanad district would be solved peacefully, Balakrishnan said "The government has no intention to solve the problem by using police.''