Kerala HC orders CBI probe into murder hours after CM says no
Kochi : Hours after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said there was no need for a CBI probe into the murder of a Youth Congress worker, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday gave the nod for it.
Vijayan told the Assembly that the probe into the murder of 30-year-old Shoaib Mohammed was going in the right direction, the police has arrested all the people concerned and hence there was no need for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
But the high court slammed the police, asking if their hands were tied or if they are inefficient in even recovering the arms used in the murder.
The brutal incident took place on February 12 when Shoaib, along with his friends, was at an eatery near Mattanur in Kannur district. Four persons came in a car and hurled bombs and then fatally slashed him with a sword.
Shoaib passed away on the way to the hospital. His father C.P. Mohammed approached the high court demanding a CBI probe.
The court on Wednesday pointed out that the speciality in Kannur political murders is that the conspiracy is never revealed.
As the state government counsel said there was no need for a CBI probe because 11 people have been arrested, the court took a strong stand.
At one point the court told the government counsel that it (the court) will decide what needs to be done.
On the CBI’s part, its counsel said it has no problem in taking up the case and will do it if the court asks.
The court then asked the present head of the police probe team to hand over the entire case file to the Thiruvananthapuram unit of the CBI.
Shoaib’s father told the media that he and his family are happy that the court accepted their demand. “The real culprits and those involved in the conspiracy of the case have to be brought to book,” said Mohammed.
Shoaib’s sister said: “We felt the police was trying to cover up. Now we hope and wish justice will be delivered.”
The Congress in Kannur had thrown its weight behind Shoaib’s family and senior party leader K. Sudhakaran even went on a fast for more than a week.
“Now if the CBI does a proper job, it will lead to the real culprits behind this murder,” said Sudhakaran.
IANS
