Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the Assembly on Wednesday that he had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to assign the case of two youths, arrested on the charge of being Maoist sympathisers, back to the Kerala Police.
His statement came a day after he had refused to approach the Centre on the arrest of Allen Shuaib and Thaha Fazil — both said to be Communist Party of India-Marxist workers and students of law and journalism.
Both were arrested in November last year from their hometown Kozhikode after police allegedly seized Maoist leaflets that condemned the central government’s action in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kerala Police charged these youths under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The National Investigation Agency later took over the case.
Vijayan had on Tuesday denied that these two youths were picked up by police while they were having tea and at one point of time had asked Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala to help correct a wrong.
CPI-M Kozhikode district secretary P. Mohanan earlier maintained that the two youths were not Maoists, but changed tack as Vijayan asserted that they were not CPI-M workers but Maoist supporters.
Deputy Leader of Opposition M.K. Muneer first raised the issue in the Assembly, pointing out to the NIA Act wherein a state government could urge the Centre to assign back a case being probed by the NIA.
Thaha’s mother told the media in Kozhikode that the family was very happy to hear of the change in stand by the Chief Minister.
“We have been steadfast Communist supporters. Even when the CM spoke against us, we took it in our stride. Now we are really happy that he has written to the Centre. Chennithala’s intervention also helped,” she said.
Chennithala and Muneer last month visited the homes of the arrested youths and assured their parents that they will do their best to help them and raise the issue in the Assembly.
