Thiruvananthapuram: The death of two Maoist activists in an alleged encounter has created a political backlash for the CPM-led Left Democratic Front government in the state with several left leaning intellectuals and fringe left groups expressing concern over the culture of encounters rearing its head in Kerala. “Ajitha and the other comrade killed by police in Nilambur forests are not criminals and it is not a moment of pride for the state police”, said Najmal Babu (T.N. Joy), a public intellectual associated with the Left in the state for many years.
The CPM should think twice before invoking the legacy of Punnapra Vayalar and the other great struggles waged by Communists in the state when the Pinarayi government was competing with the Modi government in indulging in encounter killings, he said in a statement. The situation in Kerala did not warrant an armed conflict and killings between Maoists and the security agencies, said PC Unnichekkan, state secretary of CPI-ML (Red Flag). “In such a situation a comprehensive judicial probe should be ordered into the killings of Nilambur”, he said in a statement.
The explanations given by the police in connection with the encounter so far were unclear and incomplete, he pointed out. Mr. Unnichekkan has also condemned the statement made by the Director General of Police that the incident represents “a proud and happy moment” for the state. “The statement is an insult to democratic ethos and respect for rule of law by the people of Kerala”, he said.
“Truly unfortunate if this is indeed true”, said KT Rammohan former dean of School of Social Sciences Mahatma Gandhi University in a facebook post. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also handling the police department, should explain what were the crimes committed by the Maoists for the police to shoot and kill them, said actor Joy Mathew. In a facebook post, the actor said he suspected the incident was a fake encounter. The Janakeeya Manushayavakasa Prasthanam has sent fax messages to the state DGP, home secretary and others seeking a probe into the incident as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court into encounter deaths.
