Mani likely to appear before SIT on Wednesday

THIDUPUZHA: Former CPI (M) Idukki district secretary M.M. Mani, is likely to appear at the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP) here on Wednesday for answering questions in connection with his controversial speech at Manakkad near here on May 25.


CPI (M) Idukki district secretary K.K. Jayachandran, MLA, said on Tuesday that Mani would appear before the investigation officer ‘soon.’ He, however, did not specify the time, but said the media would be informed of it.


Mani is reported to have disappeared after leaving his house at Kunjithanni at 8.30 a.m. on Monday. As on Tuesday evening, his whereabouts are not known and his mobile phone remains switched off.


In the controversial speech he allegedly said that the party had a hit list in the 1980s and that three of them on the list had been eliminated.


The murders referred to by Mr. Mani in his controversial speech included that of Ancheri Baby (shot dead on November 13,1982), Muttukad Nanappan (June 6, 1983), and Mullanchira Maithai (January 16, 1983). The accused in these cases had been acquitted by the court for want of evidence.


The SIT (headed by Inspector General of Police, Ernakulam range, K. Padmakumar) has been formed to inquire into all political murders in the district in the 1980s. It has taken statements from more than 200 persons including the accused, relatives of the victims, and witnesses.