Thaindian News

Kasargode (Kerala), Oct 16 (IANS) Firebrand Congress Lok Sabha member from Kannur, K. Sudhakaran, Sunday demanded that the 1994 Koothuparambu firing incident be re-investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

“Only if the CBI does a reinvestigation will the conspiracy angle be revealed. If the probe happens then top leaders of the CPI-M, like (state secretary) Pinarayi Vijayan, (legislator) E.P. Jayarajan and (former legislators) P. Jayarajan and M.V. Jayarajan would all become accused in the case,” said Sudhakaran, whose running feud with the CPI-M in Kannur is common knowledge.

Sudhakaran made the demand while speaking at a public meeting here Sunday and also said he would end his public life if a CBI probe reveals otherwise.

The Koothuparambu firing was on Nov 25, 1994, when the K. Karunakaran-led Congress government was in power.

The firing took place following the inauguration of the evening branch of the Co-operative Urban Bank in Koothuparambu by the then minister for co-operation and ports, M.V. Raghavan.

The function was marred by protests by the youth wing of the CPI-M against Raghavan and in the melee the police opened fire, killing five youths.

The Left government led by E.K. Nayanar that came to power in 1996 ordered a judicial probe into the incident, and on the basis of the commission’s findings initiated prosecution against Raghavan and 13 police officers.

But in 2001, when the A.K. Antony-led Congress government assumed office, the suspension of the police officers was revoked.

CPI-M politburo member and former home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that it is surprising that such a demand has come from Sudhakaran and wondered whether he did not have faith in the state police.