'CPM-BJP deal behind Ravada's appointment, party betrayed Koothuparamba martyrs'

KANNUR: AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal harshly censured the state government for appointing senior police officer Ravada A Chandrasekhar as the new DGP in the state. Venugopal alleged a secret pact between CPM and BJP that resulted in Ravada getting the top post, ignoring the likes of able candidates Yogesh Gupta and Nitin Agarwal.

"The appointment of DGP comes from a deal with the central government. We are not questioning the capability of Ravada. CPM betrayed the Koothuparamba martyrs. The least we expect of CPM is to come forward and admit that their former policies were botched," said Venugopal.

Meanwhile, CPM Kannur district secretary KK Ragesh gave a clean certificate to Ravada and dismissed allegations of the police officer having a role in the infamous Koothuparamba firing. After the appointment order was forwarded to the Union Home Ministry by the Chief Secretary yesterday, Ravada was released from the central service in the evening. He took charge at the police headquarters at 7 am today.

Ravada was acquitted by the court in the 1994 Koothuparamba firing case, in which DYFI workers were killed. Ravada ordered the firing while he was Thalassery ASP. He was subsequently suspended and only returned to service after a judicial inquiry.