Nizar panel withdrawn under IUML pressure

KASARGOD: The decision to withdraw the Justice M A Nizar Commission, which was inquiring into the police firing in Kasargod on November 15, 2009, is likely to have its  fallout in the district.The decision to withdraw the commission was announced by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the cabinet briefing on Tuesday. Some political parties here have alleged that the government took the decision following the pressure from the IUML.The IUML had boycotted the first sitting of the commission on June 22, alleging that Justice Nizar was a CPM fellow-traveller.  The commission was appointed by the previous LDF Government.An IUML activist was killed in the police firing in Kasargod on November 15, 2009.The police opened fire as violence broke out ahead of a public meeting organised by the IUML near the new bus stand here to accord reception to the newly elected office-bearers of the party. The IUML worker, Mohammed Shafeeque, was allegedly shot dead by former District Superintendent of Police Ramadas Pothen.Mustaffa, father of Mohammed Shafeeque, had moved the High Court which awarded a compensation of `5 lakh to his family.The decision to withdraw the Justice Nizar Commission would affect the image of the UDF Government, it was pointed out.“Kasargod town would have been reduced to ashes if the police had not resorted to firing,” said Ramdas Pothen.  He told Express that the IUML workers had unleashed communal violence attacking a temple and shops in the town.  “Around 300 youths dared the police to shoot. The police had to resort to firing in the face of extreme provocation by IUML workers,” he said.BJP state general secretary K Surendran said the withdrawal of the Nizar Commission was a challenge to the secular and democratic tradition of the country.“The commission was set up following the demand by the IUML for a judicial probe.It has been withdrawn since the top IUML leaders in the district feared that the commission report would expose their role in creating communal violence in the town,” he alleged.The LDF district committee also alleged that the UDF Government decided to withdraw the commission under pressure by the IUML. “The IUML had unleashed violence in the town that resulted in police firing.  The move to scuttle the commission’s probe has exposed the Muslim League,” LDF leaders said.