Author:
Publication: www.keralanext.com
Date: May 4, 2003
URL: http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=10246
Many a lucky men who escaped unhurt
during the gruesome killings that hit Marad on Friday are yet to recover
from the shock. And Thekkethody Ramanan is no exception.
He trembled while describing the
fateful evening: ''We were seven men just relaxing at the Swami Mutt on
the northern side of the Sagara Sarani Road. One woman came running and
informed us that some youth armed with swords and other weapons were encircling
us. The only option before us was to flee with our precious lives.''
Ramanan along with two other men
escaped. ''Just glancing back while fleeing for my life I saw them (the
assailants) mowing down Madhavan, Pushparaj and his brother Santhosh,''
Ramanan is choked for words. And who were the assailants? Ramanan's version
disprove the police version that dismissed any outside intervention. ''We
were attacked by a gang of 30 youth aged between 20 and 22 and most of
them strangers. Some of them escaped to the sea using fibre boats,'' he
said.
Devadas, the former president of
the local unit of the Araya Samajam and member of the peace committee in
Marad could not believe that such a thing could ever happen in Marad again,
after numerous rounds of discussions to establish a lasting peace in the
trouble-prone area. ''There was absolutely no provocation for the attack,
not even a petty quarrel. Both sides used to sit together and discuss the
issues till last month,'' he said.
Devadas, who escaped unhurt in the
attack says it was sheer luck that saved his life. ''A group armed with
knives, swords and axes suddenly emerged on the southern side of the beach
and started hacking all those who came on their way. Our men were sitting
on the beach, relaxing after day's work,'' he said. The attack was indiscriminate.
Even the aged were not spared. The police party stationed at the aid post
could not prevent the fury of the mob. ''I ran for cover and intimated
the Police Commissioner over phone. By that time the gang had finished
their job,'' he said.
The police party had to face stiff
resistance from the crowd. ''When I reached the scene, the victims' side
was preparing for a retaliation. Around 250 armed men were surging to the
other side of the road for attack. We fired in air, used rubber bullets
and tear-gas shell to bring them under control. Had they crossed the road
to reach the other side, the result would have been a massacre,'' City
Police Commissioner T K Vinod Kumar said.
