LDF govt comes under attack over remission of prisoners

The LDF government in Kerala today came under attack from opposition Congress led UDF for allegedly including the names of hard core criminals in the special remission list prepared by the Jail department.
The list included names of accused in various sensational cases including 11 convicted in the T P Chandrasekharan murder case, besides beedi tycoon Mohammed Nisham, who had rammed his luxury vehicle on a security guard killing him on the spot, as per an RTI reply. Reacting to the reports, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala attacked the government saying already the law and order situation in the state was in shambles and what would happen if more criminals were let off, he asked.

The government should desist from any such move. The UDF will meet Governor on the issue, he said in Malappuram.
Former Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said he would take legal recourse if the government goes ahead with the remission of accused in sensational cases.
K K Rema, widow of Chanrasekharan, who was hacked to death allegedly by CPI(M) workers in 2012, said the decision clearly showed that the government was trying to protect and help the accused.
"This also shows that the Marxist party was behind the attack", she said, adding, her party would organise satyagarha in front of Chief Minister's house.

BJP leader M T Ramesh, also hit out saying the LDF government was trying to "help criminals. This is condemnable", he said.

According to the RTI reply furnished by the jail department, which came up before media today, names of 11 accused in the Chandrasekharan murder case is among those which has figured in the list.
"As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the state's formation, jail department had submitted a list of 1911 persons to the government for remission. This is under the government's consideration", it said.
The name of Manichan, prime accused in the October 2000 Kalluvathukkal liquor tragedy that claimed 33 lives, is also listed in the list.

Kerala Governor, Justice(Retd) P Sathasivam, had returned the list recently seeking more clarifications.
When the issue had been raised by opposition in the assembly on February 28, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had stated that "remission will be given only to those who have completed a particular period of imprisonment. Hardcore criminals will not be given any remission", he had stated.