Government to decide on judicial probe into police firing: Kerala minister

Kerala government would shortly decide on holding a judicial inquiry into the death of two IUML workers, including one in police firing, state home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan today said.
   
The government was ready to hold an inquiry by any credible agency but there was practical difficulty in ordering a judicial probe by a sitting judge as it required prior sanction of the high court, he told reporters here.
    
An IUML activist was killed when police opened fire to disperse party workers who went on a rampage after police tried to clear road blocks due to an unschedule bike rally by the former and another stabbed to death by unidentified persons in a nearby locality here on Sunday.
   
IUML had demanded a judicial inquiry into the incidents.
   
"The government would take an appropriate decision after holding talks at the ministerial level," Balakrishnan said after a visit of the trouble-torn localities, where prohibitory orders are in force till tomorrow.
   
As per available report, there was no indication to any lapse on the part of police in opening firing to disperse the crowd, he said.
   
On IUML's view that a conspiracy by external forces could be behind the incident, he said the party should be prepared to share details with the government.
   
A delegation of opposition UDF led by Janata Dal (S) leader MP Veerendrakumar and IUML local MLA C T Ahmed Ali visited the affected area. The team would submit its report to the UDF high level committee tomorrow.