Barely explosive: MLA brings used tear-gas shell to House to slam police raj

Congress MLA and former home minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on Wednesday set off a row after he brought a used tear-gas canister to the Kerala legislative Assembly.

During a discussion on the functioning of the Home Department, the veteran leader pointed out how grenades and tear-gas were being used to counter protests in the state.

He surprised the House by pulling out the shell from a bag as he went on to highlight police atrocities.

"This was thrown at Youth Congress workers (during a recent protest in Thiruvananthapuram). Even these are past their expiry date," Radhakrishnan said.

The initial round of amused laughter gave way for concerned voices as legislators of the CPM-led ruling front questioned methods used by Radhakrishnan to make his point.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan pointed out that bringing fire-arms to the House was a violation of its rules.

"If what Thiruvanchoor has brought here is an actual grenade, it has to be handed over to the Speaker," the chief minister said. Later, Radhakrishnan handed over the shell to security personnel.

On February 26, clashes broke out between members of the Youth Congress and the police in the capital city after the chief minister turned down demands for a CBI investigation on the killing of Youth Congress leader S P Shuhaib, in Kannur.

The protesters hurled stones and bottles at the police near the State Secretariat and the police fired tear-gas canisters at them.

Shuhaib, Youth Congress Block Secretary in Mattannur, died on February 13 after being attacked by an armed gang near a road-side eatery. Police have arrested 11 people in connection with the killing, many of themare CPM activists or supporters.

CBI PROBE ON

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the CBI to take over investigation in the case. The court was hearing a petition by Shuhaib's family seeking an investigation by the central agency.

The CPM-led Left government had maintained that police investigation in the case was on course and a CBI probe was not required.