Kochi: A slew of writers and activists have expressed concern over Kerala police invoking the provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against people involved in raising posters demanding a probe into an encounter killing and detaining a student for carrying a book about the Naxalite history in Wayanad.
The police action, directly under the control of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on the eve of elections, has raised concern over the motive of CPM-led dispensation.
In a WhatsApp discussion group, writer Paul Zachariah said, "somebody is deliberately or stupidly engaged in misusing the Kerala home/police department to violate human rights and constitutional freedoms. Wonder whose agents they are. Is the chief minister is aware of it?"
"The action of the police in the state makes it harder to point the finger at Modi. Maybe that is what those who do it want."
Poet Satchidanandan said, "the encounter death too looked suspicious. Whatever the government, our police seems determined to bring it (a) bad name" he said.
Writer and academic Dileep Raj referring to a book by Julia Lovell titled Maoism: A Global History said, "Should we apply for a licence from Kerala police before contemplating buying".
Poet Asha Latha in a Facebook post asked, "Comrade, could I keep the manifesto in my bag. Not election manifesto. But the one written by the bearded German which mentions anti-state things like state getting withered away".
She was referring to the Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx along with Friedrich Engels. P.G. Hari, a homoeopath and a human rights activist, stated that those making tall claims about anti-fascist struggles should at least have the honesty to tell the number of cases being registered under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for posters demanding a probe on the killing of C.P. Jaleel.
The police jailed Lukman Pallikandy of Iritty in Kannur under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for putting up posters demanding probe into the encounter killing.
