NADAPURAM:After a week-long of riots in Thooneri that claimed the life of a 19-year-old boy and left nearly 70 houses gutted in arson, the strife-torn Nadapuram and its surroundings are somewhat calm now.
However, the human sufferings triggered by the incidents have not seen an end yet. Victims who lost all valuables in the riots blame official neglect for their plight. Meanwhile, the political parties responsible for helping the victims are busy with the blame game.
C P Abdul Salam, who recently left the CPM, alleged that the party was playing with a political agenda on the issue. He said that there was an effort to disrupt peace in the region. He also added that there is no place for communalism and anti-social elements.
“All political parties are engaged in vote-bank politics, ignoring the issues of wounded persons. Several people became homeless. Students in the region too stare at a bleak chance of success in examinations, as their documents and books have been set on fire.
Political parties are washing their hands of the issue by blaming the authorities for administrative lapses instead of taking immediate steps,’’ he alleged.
“Though the district administration made promises that emergency support would be given to victims during the all-party meet, but they are yet to be fulfilled.
“The region is witnessing scarcity of drinking water, as most of the wells in the region have been contaminated with chemicals,’’ he said.
Though Revenue officials have started assessment of losses suffered by the residents whose houses were destroyed, the task is yet to be completed.
“Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala are yet to visit the area. By this fact, it is clear that the government has not taken the Thooneri issue seriously,’’ said Salam.
Even the District Collector has not visited the region so far, he said.
The CPM and the IUML are accusing each other over the murder of the DYFI worker and the subsequent violence.
Other parties including Congress, BJP and SDPI have also followed suit by levelling allegations against one another.
Reacting to the charges, E K Vijayan, the local MLA, said that the recommendations of the all-party meeting have been forwarded to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
“It is expected that next cabinet meeting will take a favourable step in this regard,’’ the MLA added.