Author:
Publication: The New Indian Express
Date: July 17, 2005
URL: http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IER20050717013001&Topic=0&Title=Kerala&Page=R
Is she a new Vineetha Kottayi in
the making? A 68-year-old retired teacher appeared before mediapersons
here on Saturday alleging constant threat to her life from CPM workers
of Narikkuni local committee.
A widow living alone in her home
at Panikottur in Narikkuni near here, P Devakiyamma alleged that the members
of CPM and DYFI have been trying to endanger her life and destroy her property
for the last several months.
She alleged that on the midnight
of July 8, a group of assailants smashed the 50-metre-long compound wall
of her house and destroyed crops and trees inside the compound.
She alleged that she is being targeted
because she has supported the workers of a Dalit organisation whose bid
to expose the alleged involvement of CPM in the death of a Dalit youth
in Narikkuni had infuriated the members of the local committee of the party.
The youth, a DYFI activist, was
killed during the rule of the previous LDF Government. Devakiyamma said
that she had financially helped the members of the Dalit organisation to
organise a poster campaign and its other initiatives to ensure justice
to the deceased, as the members of the organisation were personally known
to her.
"They continue to intimidate me
saying that I will face the same fate of Vineetha Kottayi," she alleged.
