Even as the tenth anniversary of Marad carnage falls on May 2, 2013, the long pending demand for a CBI probe into the larger conspiracy behind the massacre remains unaddressed.
The CPM, Congress and IUML, which had earlier opposed the CBI probe, are now demanding a CBI enquiry along with the BJP.
Besides, the High Court in August 2012 had observed that an intense probe into the larger conspiracy behind the massacre was required. However, the state government is yet to act.
Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the previous LDF government back in 2010 based on the recommendation of the Justice Thomas P Joseph Commission to probe into the larger conspiracy behind the incident, the source of all explosives, large quantity of weapons collected for the massacre and source of large funds used in the planning and execution of the massacre, is yet to make any breakthrough in the case.
Both the UDF and the LDF governments denied justice to the Araya community, says Bharatiya Matsya Pravartaka Sangh state president N P Radhakrishnan.
“Soon after the massacre, the then chief minister A K Antony had assured us that the government was ready to probe into the incident using any agency suggested by the Araya community and would bring all the culprits before the law to ensure peace in the region. However, nothing has happened till date,” he said.
Police sources said former SP C M Pradip Kumar, who led the investigation initially, had noted his opinion in the police report that only a CBI probe could expose the larger conspiracy behind the Marad massacre, particularly when the suspects in the case are leaders of the ruling front.
He had also stated the difficulties for the state police to go ahead with the case snubbing political pressure.
In fact, the SIT remains more or less a defunct group groping the dark.
The Commission’s recommendation was to form a multi-agency consisting of the officers of the Central Intelligence Bureau, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Directorate Revenue Intelligence. Following the Centre’s rejection of the demand for a CBI probe, the special team only comprised three senior officers (SPs) from the state police force with C M Pradip Kumar, the then Crime Branch - Crime Investigation Department (CB-CID) SP, as the head, three DYSPs, two sub-inspectors, three assistant sub-inspectors and three civil police officers.
Sources maintained that the probe into such an important case, which requires continuous and persistent investigation, is now carried out by a sub-inspector of the team without proper directions.
At present, the SIT is headed by P A Valsan, SP, Economic Offences Wing, Crime Branch CID.
