Kollam: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that a grave lapse of duty had occurred on the part of the SI in the murder of the Kottayam youth Kevin over a love marriage. The police officer was suspended soon after the incident. The district police chief was also shifted. Action was taken against the other police officers also who were involved in the case, said the chief minister.
“These are only preliminary measures. Follow-up action will be taken after a detailed examination of the issue. A team has been formed to conduct a detailed investigation. The government has taken the case seriously. The prime suspects are already in custody and the others involved will soon be arrested,” said Pinarayi.
Addressing a political explanatory meeting as part of the second anniversary of the state government organized by the LDF district committee, Pinarayi launched a scathing attack on the media. He said that the SI in Kottayam had committed a major error, but there has been an attempt to politicize the issue. “The Kerala chief minister and the Left government is not a drum for the channel reporters to beat. They should not display their grudge by giving it a political twist,” he said.
But the government is not afraid of the development, said Pinarayi. According to him, the LDF came to power with the people’s mandate and would accept criticism which people feel is fair. However, it should really be fair criticism, repeated the chief minister.
According to him, the SI did not follow procedures in the case. The incident in Kottayam took place at night. In normal cases, the SI, by morning, comes to know of any matter that occurs at night. But here, he did not take suitable action. It was not because he went to provide security to the chief minister. In the morning he had no task related to the chief minister’s security.
During the chief minister’s programme at medical college hospital, the SI was present. “It will be examined whether he reached there as part of his duty,” said Pinarayi.
Some people are trying to shift the blame for abducting and killing Kevin on the government. “Can the chief minister avoid attending programmes at various places in the state,” asked the CM.
There is an attempt to hold the CM responsible for somebody else’s mistake. “I know very well how to respond to your charges and have given fitting replies many times before. I have not lost my gift of repartee. But considering my position I don’t wish to say anything more,” Pinarayi told reporters.
According to him, there was a move to attack the LDF as Kevin’s murder took place on the day voting was held at Chengannur. “At Chengannur, of the three major contestants – LDF, UDF and BJP – LDF has the biggest chance for victory. All over the state, support for LDF is growing. Even those who were not part of LDF have joined us. All this has made some people panicky,” said Pinarayi.
He also revealed the government’s policy: “Merit will be rewarded and mistakes will not be tolerated.”
Pinarayi said that the parents of the girl whose husband was killed in Kottayam should have remembered that they too had entered into a love marriage.
