THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an unprecedented move, Kerala’s Pinarayi-led LDF government on Saturday issued an advertisement in newspapers detailing its efforts to bring justice to the deceased engineering student Jishnu Prannoy's family.
The advertisement issued by the Information and Public Relations Department titled "Jishnu case, what's the campaign? What's the truth?" alleges that a false campaign is being propagated on the police action on Jishnu's mother Mahija. The 14-point advertisement claims that the police and the government are doing their best to book the absconding accused.
The advertisement said there was a false campaign that Mahija was dragged on the road. Also, none of the family members was arrested in connection with the incident, it said.
"Jishnu's mother and five others were given permission to meet the State police chief. But their request to take some persons who were not connected with the case was turned down. Also, another gang intruded resulting in a clash”, claimed the government in the advertisement.
However, Mahija responded that she was sad over the government's justification of the police action. "I am sad that the government did not even speak to me before issuing such an advertisement. Further sad that they justified the police atrocity," she told media persons.
"I'm equally sad to speak against the government," she added.
However, Jishnu's father Ashokan responded that the government was against his family.
"A section of people are deliberately creating problems by exploiting the plight of the family. The incidents in front of the police headquarters and the subsequent violence in different parts of the State are a reflection of the conspiracy against the government," it said.
Chandy visits Mahija
Meanwhile, former chief minister Oommen Chandy visited Mahija on Saturday morning. Chandy told reporters that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's stand against meeting Mahija was condemnable. "The government should have convinced Jishnu's family rather than going for a media advertisement," he said.