People's Democracy

Dear Chief Minister,

May I bring to your attention , a few facts about some incidents of assaults in the northern parts of Kerala, in Kasarkod district and Nadapuram in Kozhikode district. In the assaults that occurred in connection with the reception accorded to your cabinet colleague Mr Cherkulam Abdullah, Kasarkod has incurred losses worth crores of rupees. In Nadapuram the earlier tension, which was brought under control by the attempts of all concerned parties and humanists has been torpedoed by the one-sided and arbitrary killing of CPI(M) activist by the IUML workers. This assassination took place on June 2. It is the IUML that is in the forefront of all these attacks. IUML is the second largest partner in the UDF. Intoxicated with the ill-gotten power in the state the IUML workers and leaders were planning and executing a series of attacks on the people. On a visit to Nadapuram and Kasarkod, we have witnessed a number of poor, helpless families which remain frightened by the unscrupulous assaults of the IUML workers , many of whom are drawn from among the anti-socials of the areas concerned.

Karthyayini residing in the Kannamkulam colony of Cheruvathur in Kasarkod told us that the minister Mr Cherkulam Abdullah was commandering the operations from his vehicle in broad daylight. The other locals also told us that the criminals destroyed their houses right in front of the minister. Perhaps you are aware of the extent of damage in Kasarkod from news reports and electronic media.

One front coming to power and the other losing it, is a usual phenomenon in Kerala. As part of this it is also usual that an MLA becomes a minister. It is also natural there is some jubilation on the part of the winning side and a celebration on one person becoming a minister.

But the cause of the uncalled for incidents in Kasarkod is definitely an unusual way of celebration on Abdullah’s becoming Minister.

Don’t you see that Mr. Abdullah’s convoy had adopted a curious route to celebrate his ministership? They avoided the national high way and selected a roundabout route to enjoy and celebrate. At Cheruvathur even college girls were not spared by the assailants.

Mr Chief Minister, your police have not, so far, been able to ascertain the quantum and measure of the damages caused in the attacks. Many houses, shops, vehicles, people and institutions were attacked and destroyed. Police showed unbridled partiality. After indulging in loot and arson the IUML workers have hidden themselves somewhere with the help of the police. We have realised that in the island of Thekkekattu in the area, the assailants got all assistance from the police to attack the residents of the island, destroy their houses in a lightning bid. During the time of this assault a police officer who might perhaps have questioned this inhuman illegality was transferred on the spot.

Mr Chief Minister, Not only CPI(M) activists, but people belonging to other parties such as the CPI, INL, Janata Dal, and even people belonging to socio-cultural organisations were subjected to inhuman torture by your followers in the most unheard of ways, of course, the IUML brand leading the pack.

The IUML hooligans also attacked people following other parties in the UDF. Only From Kasarkod district material worth around half a crore rupees was looted by the IUML assailants. Gold, money and household utensils were all stolen. The orgy reminds one of the attack by thugs and pindaris of the days by gone. Seven houses were completely destroyed while 37 houses were partly damaged or ruined. The IUML has caused a loss of around three crore rupees in the unwarranted revenge they wreaked upon the people of Kasarkod. Eight commercial establishments, one tyre company, one oil mill, one fibre factory, three Dinesh Beedi companies, one copra manufacturing centre, one library, three STD booths, six offices of the CPI(M), and offices of the NGO Union and KSTA offices were set on fire or destroyed by the assailants. 60 CPI(M) activists were injured and are undergoing treatment in different hospitals.

Mr Chief Minister, your police are not ready to arrest or book the culprits who have committed inhuman crimes in broad day light. This is a testimony to the police policy you are going to pursue. Do you think rendering all assistance to the criminals working on behalf of your front is a right police policy?

Newspapers have reported that the Nadapuram criminals have foreign contacts. They have contacts with terrorist outfits headquartered in different places. Their attempt is to Talibanize the area. The style of their attack is on the Taliban model. Unfortunately your party also has a role in these attacks. One of your local leaders Mr Puthussery Rajeev was arrested earlier in connection with Nadapuram atrocities. Media has reported, quoting from official sources, that large quantities of weapons and explosives have reached Nadapuram from several sources. They include sophisticated explosive devices and detonators.

We have seen hundreds of helpless, hapless and forlorn people who leave their homes and place in quest of shelters where at least their life would be safe. The police are in a hurry to protect and safeguard the criminals who have been injured in the course of making bombs for further attacks. Due to non-cooperation of the police, all attempts to establish peace in the area is becoming fruitless.

You have sent a team of the UDF to Nadapuram and they have brazenly come up with sheer lies before the suffering people of Nadapuram. My dear Chief Minister, are you not ashamed to lower your position to such a very low level as this? Your group has declared the assailants to be saints and the victims to be the offenders. You are keeping mum about the terrorists who are engaged in treason. You are making fun of the victims of assaults. Is it not, in the most moderate terms, a shame on the part of a chief minister, Mr Chief Minister?

I request you to make a visit at least one in Nadapuram and Kasarkod. I request you to see the suffering of hundreds of people in those places. They will tell you who the real culprits are. They will tell you how they suffered at the hands of the assailants. The criminals intoxicated with power are still sowing seeds of discord in the area. Even in heavy rains houses are burning in Nadapuram. If the media reports are correct, there is still the possibility of riots in Nadapuram. The terrorists have accumulated heaps of weapons and explosives. These criminals are raising the banners of your partner parties.

Dear Chief Minister, people expect justice from the police. You are bound to ask your police to suppress assailants and marauders without any partiality. The police which is afraid of criminals in any political configuration is not suitable for Kerala. You have to be vigilant about the heaps of weapons and explosives collected by the IUML criminals. If this is true, it will create a very perilous situation in the state. This creates great unrest in the minds of the people who have great expectations about our state.

My dear Chief Minister, the only relevant question now before the state and the people of the state is whether you will respond to the real challenge in these circumstances? Are you ready to order your police to book the criminals? We know your limitations. You acquired power in the company and with the help of the communal forces in the state. You have compromised with the communal forces. Therefore you may be fettered by several fissiparous forces to act according to their wishes. It will be difficult for you to question those who helped you to acquire power. Still, as the Chief Minister, you have certain obligations to the people. We hope you will be able to discharge your duties as Chief Minister of the state.

Yours faithfully,

Pinarayi Vijayan.

June 9, 2001.