THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy has urged Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan to take action against erring officials without any delay who ordered firing at Cheriyathura killing six people on May 17.
Oommen Chandy who met Achuthanandan here on Thursday morning expressed deep concern over the delay in taking action against the officials even after four days of the police firing.
He urged the Chief Minister that the Government should not hesitate to take action against the police officials.
The meeting assumes significance as the Cabinet is expected to discuss the issue in its meeting on Friday. The Government is likely to take action based on the preliminary investigation report submitted by Director-General of Police Jacob Punnoose.
There were allegations that the police had ordered firing without getting the permission from the City Police Commissioner or District Collector. In the wake of these allegations, Chandy urged the Chief Minister to take immediate action. Later, inaugurating a dharna staged by the United Democratic Front in front of the Secretariat, Chandy urged the State Government to enhance the compensation announced for the family of those killed in the firing.
He also said that the Government should take steps to give compensation to all those who lost their fishing gear and house-hold articles in the violence at Cheriyathura and Beemapally. Chandy said that there had been a demand that Government jobs should be given to the close relatives of those killed in the firing. The Government should seriously consider this demand.
The Opposition Leader has warned that the UDF would launch an agitation if no action is taken against the officials responsible for the firing without getting the sanction from the authorities.
``The UDF did not want to sensitise the issue till now. But even after four days of the police firing the Government has not taken any serious action. This is not acceptable,’’ Chandy said.
