By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Friday denied accusations by the Left that police were using third degree methods or torture against those held for the murder of former CPI-M leader T.P. Chandrasekheran.
Chandy said his government would not attempt to settle political scores in probing Chandrasekheran’s murder or the disclosures made by CPI-M leader M.M. Mani, who in a speech last month publicly acknowledged that the party indulged in political murders.
“There will be no political vendetta settlement in any case. Everything will be done in the most transparent manner, and no innocent would be targeted. But those who have any role in any of the murder cases will not be allowed to escape the rule of law,” said Chandy.
The chief minister said this in response to a specific question by media persons if the probe in the two cases would be similar to what happens in Tamil Nadu when the rival Dravidian parties rule that state.
“So do you mean that the T.P. Chandrasekheran case and the disclosures made by M.M. Mani should not be investigated? There are no third degree methods adopted by the police as claimed by the CPI-M against those in custody,” added Chandy.
Former firebrand CPI-M leader Chandrasekheran was hacked to death by hired killers under the directions of the CPI-M on May 4 night near Kozhikode.
The CPI-M has turned jittery after disclosures by 20 of the accused now in custody that the killing was carried out under the directions of known leaders of the party.
“Yes, it’s true that the actual killing was done by the grassroot workers. The probe team will certainly look into the role of the conspirators. There will be no soft corner shown to any leader, whosoever he is,” said Chandy.
On Thursday night, the prime accused in the case T.K. Rajeesh, who allegedly masterminded the killing, was arrested by the probe team. Following questioning, he has told police that the crime was committed on the directions of a top CPI-M leader in Kannur, police sources said.