THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Assembly witnessed ample fireworks on Wednesday with the Opposition staging walkouts twice, the first in protest against the brutal murder of a bus passenger at Perumbavoor and the second, criticising what it termed as government inaction against police officer Radhakrishna Pillai who shot at the SFI activists in Kozhikode.The Opposition staged the first walkout after the Speaker refused to adjourn the House and discuss the murder of Raghu by three men, one of whom was K Sudhakaran MP’s gunman. Saju Paul, who sought leave for the adjournment, said that Satheesh, the gunman, should be dismissed from the police force. He also sought action against Sudhakaran for abetting the crime, a demand which was booed down by the UDF.However, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said there was no cause for adjourning the House to discuss the issue. While the murder was shocking by its very nature, the State Government has taken all possible legal action against the accused, one of whom is yet to be apprehended. “The victim, Raghu, was no pickpocket or criminal,” the Chief Minister said. The injuries that led to his death were caused by severe beating at the bus stand. “The three men were not travelling together. They had taken three separate tickets to Perumbavoor. We cannot approve of moral policing. All possible steps will be taken to protect Raghu’s family,” he said, condemning the murder. Cases were registered against Santhosh, the first accused, and Satheesh under IPC Section 302 and Section 34.The Opposition walked out a second time alleging that the State Government was deliberately delaying action against Assistant Commissioner Radhakrishna Pillai. Chandy’s explanation that the DGP’s report on the firing was awaited did not placate the LDF. According to Chandy, the DGP had ordered Kannur Range DIG Sreejith to investigate the issue, but he was deployed to Kanhangad where DYFI-IUML clashes threatened to spread. “If he can, he will look into the Kozhikode issue, otherwise, the ADGP will investigate it” Chandy said. He denied that the government was deliberately dragging its feet on the investigation.On Wednesday also the Opposition gleefully attacked Chandy with the Technical Committee report which said that Nirmal Madhav’s admission to the Government Engineering College, West Hill, was illegal.“Since Chandy had assumed full responsibility for the admission on Tuesday, he had, in effect, abetted an illegal action,” the Opposition alleged. Chandy, however, stood firm saying his decision was correct when viewed from a humanitarian point of view. “The priority was that if Nirmal wanted to study, he should be given the opportunity,” he said.
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