Will not compromise on issue of crimes: CM

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi VIjayan Monday said the LDF government would not compromise on the issue of crimes, especially political murders, and asserted strong action would be taken to check such incidents. 

The chief minister also cautioned about the presence of certain outfits, which give training in committing murders, in the state.

Replying during question hour in the state Assembly, Vijayan said not all-party meetings but strong legislation was the need of the hour to end the menace. 

"The government will not compromise in the case of crimes and there will be no action to protect criminals. We do not differentiate murders as political murders. We see all types of murders as murders and will take strict action against them," he said. 

"We cannot say there is any political party in the state which stands for murders. But there are certain outfits which give training in committing murders and political parties which are led by such organisations. They are polishing their weapons. It should be stopped," he said. 

Patrolling and monitoring has been intensified in the politically sensitive areas and state police and intelligence wing have launched coordinated efforts to check such incidents, he added. 

Vijayan's statement assumes significance as opposition parties, including Congress and BJP, have alleged that CPI(M), which leads ruling LDF, was trying to annihilate rival party activists ever since it came into power after the May 16 Assembly polls. 

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and a delegation of BJP MPs recently visited Kannur district, where some political murders have been reported in recent times. 

Quoting official data, Vijayan said as many as 334 murders had been reported in the state last year against 367 in 2014. 

IUML leader and former minister P K Kunhalikutty, who raised a question about increasing crime rate, said Kerala was becoming a land of murders and political violence and urged government to take strong measures to check it.