Thiruvananthapuram: Govt aims to correct individuals lost to misconceptions and bring them into mainstream society, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly today.
Thunderbolts team at Attapadi's Manjikatti was fired upon by Maoists, prompting retaliatory shooting in which the deaths occurred, the minister explained. He was responding to the adjournment motion moved by N Shamshudheen MLA.
On Monday morning, 28 Oct, cops belonging to Thunderbolts team were patrolling forests of Gandiyarkendi within Agali police station limits in Attapadi. Around 12.20 noon, the team had reached Manjikendi, roughly 25 km into the forest.
While stationed in a shed there, members of the banned gang appeared and opened fire, following which police shot back in defense..
3 Maoists were killed in the incident and their weapons, including AK 47 rifle, were recovered from the scene.
Next day, as inquest procedures related to the deaths were in progress, some more members of the gang showed up and fired shots at Ottapalam Asst. Collector, the Thehsildar and Mannarcaud Thehsildar. Police responded with retaliatory fire at the time, in which the fourth Maoist was killed.
Sophisticated weapons including AK 47 rifles were recovered from the deceased, the minister said.
"Loss of life under any circumstances is saddening, said Pinarayi. However this case has a particular background," he explained to the legislators.
"There has been report dating back to 2013 stating how this banned Maoists group had formed its south zonal committee. These gangs, equipped with sophisticated weaponry and ingredients for bomb-making are present at forest borders of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. And such information has come to the attention of the Assembly in past years too.
Presented with the situation, UDF during its tenure in 2013, had formulated Anti-Naxal squad followed by setting up Anti-Terror Squad headed by Kannur DIG in 2014.
Kerala with its high democratic standards are targeted by groups, especially those trained outside like Maoists, to weaken the system. It is a known fact that banned radical groups have killed civilians, politicians and social activists alike in other states. These outfits are mustering strength in Kerala too, which must be resisted It is govt duty to upkeep its constitutional obligations and protect peoples lives, their properties and uphold democracy in the state
The recent deaths are unfortunate, as it is govt's endeavour to correct these radicals and integrate them into mainstream public life, for which rehabilitation packages are in place for those who give up terror and surrender. said Pinarayi.
" The govt on its part, will also examine if there has been any lapse in the deaths in terms of human rights guidelines, the minister added.
