Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today asserted every effort was being made to trace the key accused in the abduction and assault of a popular south Indian actress as Opposition parties stepped up their attack on the law-and-order issue.
Four accused in the case have been arrested so far while key history sheeter ‘Pulsar’ Suni and his accomplice V P Vijeesh are still at large.
The chief minister said police were taking all measures to arrest the two accused.
“Police action has been fruitful and government viewed the matter seriously’, Vijayan, who also holds the Home portfolio, told reporters here.
He also dismissed media reports that sons of a top CPI(M) leader were allegedly behind the attack on the actress.
“In our state, people have the licence to talk whatever they want. We cannot stop them,” he said.
Meanwhile, hitting out at the government for the delay in arrest of the key accused, Congress and BJP alleged that it was a ‘failure’ of the administration.
CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the incident should not be politicised.
“Those who attack the actress and those who gave the quotation for the assault need to be brought before law as early as possible. The culprits need to be identified soon, only then it will be a victory for the police’, he said here.
While BJP National Executive member V Muraleedharan alleged that police have failed to nab the key accused even after five days, “which shows that they were hand in glove with the criminals.”
“If the prime accused is arrested and interrogated, the conspiracy angle will come to the fore”, he said.
BJP and CPI(M) also traded barbs against each other over the links of V P Vijeesh.
Condemning the incident, KPCC said it was a reflection of the ‘failure’ of law and order situation in the state.
In a resolution, KPCC said ‘those who came to power with the slogan of women’s safety have destroyed it’.
The delay in arresting the culprits was a direct indication of the protection they were receiving by the ruling dispensation, it alleged.
Meanwhile,popular Malayalam actor Dileep today slammed a section of the media for dragging his name into the incident.
In a Facebook post, he said that a ‘complete and truthful’ probe should be held to bring all the culprits before law and ensure just and maximum punishment to them.