HAV to relaunch strike for CBI probe into Marad riots

KOZHIKODE: The Hindu Aikya Vedi (HAV) in the state would re-launch agitation demanding a CBI probe into the Marad riot that claimed nine lives in the coastal Marad beach in this district nine years years ago. HAV General Secretary E S Biju said a probe by the Central Agency would be necessary to unravel alleged inter-state link, economic support to the miscreants and conspiracy angle of the March 2, 2003 communal clashes. He said the recent Kerala High Court verdict sentencing to life 24 acquitted persons in the case was a major setback to the Centre and the State government, which had ruled a CBI probe into the case. These governments owed an explanation to the people on while they were shrinking of their responsibility for a CBI investigation in the wake of the HC judgment. The HAV would conduct a convention here on September 5 to chalk out the agitational programme, adding Vedi General Secretary Kummanam Rajasekharan and other community leaders, including M Radhakrishanan, would attend, he added.