THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the first day of its 11th session, the Kerala Assembly witnessed major uproar over the murder of Kevin Joseph, a victim of honour killing. Demanding CBI probe into the killing, the opposition disrupted assembly proceedings leading to an early adjournment for the day.
Raising the issue during zero hour, the Congress alleged major lapses by the police and pointed fingers at the CPM. A couple of the accused are DYFI workers, the UDF alleged.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused opposition UDF of trying to politicise the issue. Pinarayi said though many of the accused - Chacko, his wife Rehna and son Shanu Chacho - are Congress workers, he would not want to name the Congress as behind the murder. The accused should be viewed merely as accused; Not as people with any political affiliation, Pinarayi said while adding that investigation would be carried out irrespective of political affiliations of the accused. The chief minister reiterated that such an incident, which is against democratic values, should not have happened in Kerala.
The Opposition UDF alleged major lapses from the part of the police personnel as there was a delay of about 24 hours in registering the case.
Seeking leave for an adjournment motion, senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan unleashed a scathing attack on the police failure. He alleged that the postmortem was carried out by junior doctors.
With the Speaker denying permission for the adjournment motion, opposition members raised slogans and moved to the well with banners. The Speaker cut short the proceedings after winding up the Calling Attention and Submissions.
Police personnel may face more action
There are reports that the government may take more stringent action - including dismissal - against the police personnel in the Kevin issue. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday told the Assembly that more action against the police personnel is on the cards.
Already a couple of police personnel including the Gandhi Nagar Sub Inspector was placed under suspension while two others were arrested for seeking bribe. The Kottayam SP was also transferred following the issue.