Ramesh Chennithala alleges ‘political conspiracy’ behind clashes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has alleged that there was a political conspiracy behind the ongoing political murders and clashes in the state.

“Some political parties have hatched a conspiracy to derail the peaceful scenario in the state during Onam. The political murders and the subsequent clashes are the outcome of such a conspiracy,” Mr. Chennithala told reporters after a review meeting with top police officers.

He called upon the CPM and BJP workers to keep off violence. “Even women and children were attacked brutally without any provocation. Such planned violence is a shame for the state. The police will take stern action,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government was of the view that the CPM leaders were not trying to contain the violence as they want to prevent the flow of CPM cadres to the BJP and the RSS, especially since the local body polls are round the corner.

Additional chief secretary (Home) Nalini Netto, state police chief T.P. Senkumar, ADGP (Intelligence) A. Hemachandran and ADGP (Administration) Arun Kumar Sinha were present at the review meeting.