People's Democracy

(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Vol. XXX

No. 47

November 19, 2006

PM Assures Justice To Khairlanji Massacre Victims

 

THE prime minister will intervene to ensure justice in the Khairlanji dalit massacre case. He gave this assurance to CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and MP, Brinda Karat, when she met him on November 15 to brief about the CPI(M) delegation’s findings on the case.

 

The prime minister also said that in the forthcoming National Development Council meeting there will be a special session framed on measures required for preventing atrocities on dalits and weaker sections. He was responding to the five points highlighted by Brinda Karat, namely :

  1. The CBI enquiry should be time-bound. The case to be heard before a fast track court. The prosecution to include lawyers suggested by the victims’ families

  2. Prosecution against the doctors for fudging the post-mortem report

  3. Immediate suspension of SP and other police officials responsible for connivance in weak investigation and destruction of evidence

  4. Release of dalits who have been arrested and withdrawal of cases against them

  5. Urgent meeting of home ministers and home secretaries of states where atrocities against dalits have been on the increase to be called by the prime minister so as to work out a plan of action and code of conduct for administration and officials dealing with all such cases.

The prime minister said that he would be personally discussing these issues with the chief minister of Maharashtra. (INN)