Stick to LDF police policy, CPM secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan tells cops

Thiruvananthapuram: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has warned the police that the LDF has a well-stated police policy which was not in any way similar to the policies of previous UDF government or the Modi government at the Centre. In a write-up in party mouthpiece Deshabhimani, the state secretary said there was an attempt to create controversy regarding police policy in connection with the recent national anthem issue. According to LDF policy, UAPA should be used only for checking and preventing terrorist activities. “It should not be used for any other purpose,” he added.

Kodiyeri said the police should get ready for a legal review of UAPA slapped during the previous UDF Government’s tenure. He said during the UDF government’s tenure UAPA and sedition charges had been widely misused even against political activists. “It is strange that those who didn’t move a little finger at that time were now speaking vociferously,” he added. Kodiyeri said the case against Nadir was registered under UAPA during Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala’s tenure. Though he was taken into custody recently, the police let him off as the case was found to be flawed.

However, he admitted that the slapping of sedition charges under 124 (A) against writer and novelist Kamal C Chavara would have sent a wrong message. The police took the right decision in releasing him from the police station. CPM state secretary said the LDF Government had taken strong action against erring officers whenever they didn’t act in consonance with its police policy or acted against the Police Act. The chief minister has already given a strong message that those taking wrong decisions would strong action. Kodiyeri said there attempts from certain quarters to break the morale of police by unleashing campaign on isolated incidents.

There is a devious objective of creating a law and order problem and chaos by weakening the police force. He alleged that the Maoists, RSS, fundamentalist forces and extreme right and left forces had come together for this objective. The people should see through their designs and added that the Pinarayi Vijayan government was moving the right direction after understanding the threat. Kodiyeri said the Modi Government and the RSS under its protection were attempting to manufacture fake patriotism and nationalistic feelings. This will endanger the pluralistic and democratic culture of the country.