BJP demands NIA probe into hartal violence in Malappuram

MALAPPURAM: The state president of BJP, Kummanam Rajsekharan demanded National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the violence during the ‘Janakeeya Hartal’ called by social media groups, on Monday. Rajasekharan was speaking after visiting the violence-hit areas in Tanur and Tirur regions of the district.
Strongly criticising the state government he has alleged that inaction of police led to violence and vandalism during hartal.“Both government and police were informed about vandalism under cover of the hartal. Attacks were pre- planned ahead of hartal and shops of Hindus were targeted during the entire protest programmes. But, police remained mute spectators,” Kummanam said.
He said that attempts were made to instigate communal riots and police failed to foil it. The protesters were supported by Congress and CPM, he alleged. He also demanded state government to distribute financial aid to persons who are victims of hartal related violence.
Meanwhile, the number of persons who were arrested in connection with the violence crossed 300. Police have registered a total of 95 cases.
Cyber Cell has initiated a probe into the involvement of social media groups in spreading messages seeking support for hartal.
Meanwhile, the hartal, called by traders’ bodies at Tanur in protest against the attacks on shops during Monday’s hartal, was peaceful and total. No untoward incidents were reported related to hartal. The area is under police surveillance and huge police force from local police stations and camps was deployed in the violence-hit areas.
After the hartal turned violent on Monday district police chief Debesh Kumar Behera has issued a prohibitory order under Tanur, Parappanangadi and Tirur police station limits.
Meanwhile the district congress committee president V V Prakash on Tuesday condemned the violent incidents during hartal on Monday. In a statement Prakash said that some organisations with vested interest were behind the attacks during hartal and police were mute spectators when hartal supporters unleashed violence across the district.