Then Collector was a communalist:Maradu Commission

Marad Commission flays the then Collector
Monday April 24 2006 14:02 IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The judicial commission, which inquired into the massacre at Marad, has come down heavily on the then district collector T.O. Sooraj.

The report says that the allegations raised by the Hindu organisations, that Sooraj was a communalist were probably true.

The massacre on May 2, 2003 was a one-sided attack on Hindus unleashed by religious extremists and vested interests exploiting the sentiments of the relatives of the Muslims, who were killed in 2001 January, the report says.

The commission flayed Sooraj for allowing IUML leader E. Ahamed to offer prayers at the Marad Juma Masjid at a time when an explosive situation prevailed in the area.

The mosque was under the custody of collector after the incident.

The collector’s contention that the intelligence officers had not conveyed the details they collected regarding Marad is untrue.

The commission suggested that a probe be instituted to find out as to why precautionary measures were not taken even after getting prior information about possibility of violence in Marad.

The commission, in its enquiry, has felt that there is a strong presence of extremist organisations, having links with other countries, inside Kerala.

The government could not take any effective action against such outfits as it is only concerned with vote bank.

The government has shown apathetic attitude or has failed in instituting effective probe into incidents of bomb blast and murders carried out by religious extremist organisations.

The massacre on May 2, 2003 was a one-sided attack on Hindus unleashed by religious extremists and vested interests exploiting the sentiments of the relatives of the Muslims, who were killed in 2001 January, the report says.

Responses