Political murders: apex court rejects State plea

The Supreme Court on Friday put a lid on the controversy triggered by the Kerala High Court’s adverse observation on the law and order situation and the police investigations vis-a-vis political murders in the State, saying it was only a general statement.

The High Court had in April last year questioned the police investigations into the political murders involving CPI(M) and BJP/RSS cadre in Kannur district.

The Kerala government had sought a stay on the High Court order initiating suo motu proceedings with regard to the political murders in 2007-08 while granting bail to a murder accused in Thalassery.

However, a Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice P. Sathasivam said: “We do not think that the learned judge has given opinion to the effect that the entire system of investigation of police is in serious problem but has only given a general statement which does not in any way show the reflection regarding the maintenance of law and order in the State.”

Special Correspondent adds from Thiruvananthapuram: The court had asked the State government to furnish particulars as to how many political murders had taken place in the Thalassery division in the last one year, in how many cases the final report had been filed, and in how many cases investigation was going on, with details including dates, parties involved, etc., as also the stages of all session trials where trials had commenced.