The Hindu : No political pressure: DGP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

No political pressure: DGP

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE MAY 10. The Director General of Police (DGP), K.J. Joseph, has said that there is no scope for political pressure on the investigation into the massacre at Marad.

Talking to presspersons here today, Mr. Joseph said the Kerala police would not bow to political pressure. ``No politician has telephoned any top police officials. There is no possibility of anyone ringing up either. Even if it happens it would not have any effect.''

He said the hunt for absconding persons was on. ``The police have got information about their passport numbers and phone numbers.''

Asked whether the accused would have left the State, the DGP replied in the negative and said they were still in Kozhikode-Malappuram districts.

He said that so far 58 persons had been accused in connection with the massacre.

He promised substantial progress in the investigation in three weeks.

To another query, he said there was no evidence on the massacre being sponsored.

But he added that it was too early to comment on such a possibility.

Asked whether the Kozhikode Assistant Commissioner (South), Abdul Rahim, was asked to report to the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram under pressure from political parties, he said that the police officer was asked to report following a technical problem regarding the filing of chargesheets in 102 cases with regard to previous communal clashes at Marad. ``Another Dy.SP, Jacob Job, was also asked to report to the headquarters in connection with solving this problem.''

``Don't read too much into this. He (the police officer) is not transferred. Moreover, an IG is posted full time for the investigation.''

Asked if any politicians were involved in the recent violence at Marad, he said that the recent violent incident was not a political clash.

He said there was no intelligence failure on the part of the police in anticipating the violence.

``There was no warning that such an incident will take place. A one-sided attack was not anticipated at that time.''

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