Maoists are not "holy souls", "lambs": Ker CM; Slams UDF for

Maoists are not "holy souls" and "lambs", Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the state assembly as he defended the police action in which four suspected ultras were killed and accused the Congress-led UDF of trying to 'glorify' them.

Referring to killings of security personnel and farmers by Maoists in states like Chhattisgarh and Bihar, he sought to know if the opposition United Democratic Front wanted such a situation in Kerala.

Replying to a notice for adjournment motion moved by Congress to discuss the killings of the Maoists and arrest of two alleged pro-Maoist student activists of CPI(M) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, he, however, said the LDF government would not allow misuse of the dreaded law.

"The Maoists had not come to surrender. They had shot at the police", he said referring to the encounter in Attapady in Palakkad district last week in which four ultras were gunned down.

Vijayan expressed shock over what he said 'glorification' of the Maoists by the Congress-led UDF.

A day after demanding the resignation of Vijayan over the two student activists, arrested for allegedly distributing pro-Maoists pamphlets, being booked under the UAPA, the opposition front sought to step up pressure by seeking to move the adjournment motion in the assembly.

Opposing it, Vijayan said: "The ultras had killed several CRPF personnel, police and farmers in various states, including Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bihar and the Maoists are being portrayed as "holy souls" by the UDF. Do you want this situation to come to Kerala?" he asked.

Referring to the charge of Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who moved the notice for the motion, that the Maoists were shot at point blank range and killed when they came to surrender, the chief minister said: "Do not portray Maoists as lambs. Why is the opposition trying to glorify the Maoists ?"