'Attempt to mislead' Muthoot murder case

Vijayan held a news conference here for the second time to discuss the murder at which he accused a section of the media of trying to mislead the police investigations.
He said the police should probe the intentions of the TV channel which carried a news item in which a blacksmith claimed that the police had ordered him to make an ‘S’ shaped dagger. Mr Vijayan failed to see reason in the claims of reporters that it was the police which tipped the media on the blacksmith.

It may be noted that a senior police official also held a news conference at which he claimed that an ‘S’ shaped dagger was used to stab Paul.

The police have officially not yet questioned the veracity of the news report even though the blacksmith has retracted his statement, apparently under pressure.

Vijayan claimed that the police investigations were headed in the right direction and that a section of the media was trying to protect criminals by coming up with such reports.  He also lashed out at the Congress and alleged that some leaders were actively protecting goondas. He claimed that it was a Congress leader who sponsored the criminal gang which attacked Paul. When asked to comment on Mr Vijayan's criticism against the media, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said that the media was doing many good things.