Why was Marad probe team dissolved, HC asks DGP

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday asked the state police chief as to why the special team constituted to investigate the larger conspiracy behind the second Marad communal carnage was dissolved in the middle of investigation.The court asked the police chief to explain as to why the court should not order restoration of the same investigation team if the investigation is not complete.The court also asked the state government to file a detailed statement in this regard.A Division Bench Comprising Justice C N Ramachandran Nair and Justice Babu Mathew P Joseph passed the order while considering a petition filed by Kolakkadan Moosa Haji of Kozhikode seeking a CBI probe into the larger conspiracy behind the second Marad communal carnage. The court issued notice to the state, Crime Branch ADGP Vinson M Paul and Superintendent C M Pradeep.The petitioner submitted that pursuant to the first Marad communal carnage, a retaliatory attack took place in 2003 on Marad beach. Eight Hindus and a Muslim lost their lives in the carnage. “The Crime Branch ADGP revealed that the second Marad communal carnage was planned and was a result of deep-rooted conspiracy. A lot of members of the ruling party of the then coalition government were involved in it,” the petitioner submitted.The petitioner also said that proper investigation was not possible since political leaders were involved in it, and the members of the team were transferred to other districts.Superintendent of Police Pradeep, who headed the investigation team, was transferred to Thiruvananthapuram to take up an assignment at the Kerala State Human Rights Commission.“Members of the SIT were credible but they will not be able to investigate the involvement of foreign hand and foreign funds. The Inquiry Commission had found that 15 persons, including four foreigners, conspired in a hotel in Kozhikode. The commission also reported that prominent IUML leader A P Moideen Koya and state secretary Mayin Haji were involved in the planning and execution of the massacre. The state does not want an inquiry by an independent central agency as it only wants to protect the members of the coalition government. So the CBI has to investigate the larger conspiracy which culminated in the communal carnage,” the petitioner submitted.