Mosque violence: CBI probe demanded

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI, DEC. 13. The president of the State unit of the Indian National League (INL), Mr. M. Abdul Latheef, MLA, demanded CBI enquiry into the violence in the mosque in Palayamkottai to ensure an ``impartial and comprehensive'' probe.

Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Latheef said the violence in the mosque was a determined and pre-conceived plot of the nation-wide phenomena created by the forces of Hindutva. The original plan of the miscreants was to achieve the twin objectives of desecrating the mosque and kill the Muslims, at one stroke. They could not succeed in their first objective, as the explosive did not create the expected impact.

Mr. Latheef said he had reason to suspect a plot as there has been opposition from some quarters to the construction of the mosque in that particular locality.

By providing a solatium of Rs. two lakhs to the family of the victim and a Government job to his son, Mr. Latheef said the Government had done some justice to the affected family. But it has not done any thing to prevent the loss suffered by the entire society due to the serious damage caused to the unity by fundamentalist forces. The Government should act swiftly and systematically so that the root of this menace is traced out and eliminated once for all.

The Tamilaga Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) threatened to launch statewide agitation if proper and effective steps were not initiated to bring to book the real culprits involved in the mosque violence within a reasonable time.

Speaking to press persons here on Wednesday, Mr. Haider Ali, general secretary of the TMMK said, the motive of the miscreants involved in this crime was to hurl bomb on the mosque. He took exception to the statement of Mr. L. Ganesan, general secretary of the State BJP, in this regard and said it was nothing but an indirect threat to the police.

The police should not drag on the investigations for months together, Mr. Haider Ali added.

Our Madurai Staff Reporter Writes:

The Hindu Munnani has strongly opposed the attempts of certain political parties to `politicise' the Palayamkottai murder.

In a statement issued in Madurai today, Mr. Rama. Gopalan, State organiser, said it was unfortunate that senior leaders like Mr. G. K. Moopanar had `jumped to conclusions' even before a formal enquiry could take place into the murder in a mosque. He claimed that the Hindu Munnani was opposed to the naming of the new bus stand at Tirunelveli after Quaid-e-Milleth but would hail its naming after Seethakathi, Seiguthambi Pavalar or Umarupulavar.

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