Security guard murder to be probed with caution: Kerala CM

Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 (IANS) The ongoing probe into the murder of a security guard in Kerala will be carried out with the utmost caution, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy assured the Kerala assembly on Wednesday.

Chandy was responding to a demand for leave for an adjournment motion moved by the Left opposition over the murder of security guard Chandra Bose by millionaire businessman Muhammed Nisham.

"This is one incident that has shocked humanity here. In such cases we have to go forward with utmost caution to ensure that the maximum punishment is handed out," said Chandy.

Nisham, accused of ramming his vehicle into Bose and killing him, was taken into custody on January 29, the day the incident occurred.

Bose died on February 16 after which Nisham was booked under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) last week.

He will not be able to apply for bail for the next six months.

Nisham is said to have first assaulted the security guard and later rammed his luxury vehicle into him at a posh villa on January 29.

Babu M. Pallissery, a CPI-M legislator who raised this issue in the assembly, said Nisham's wife arrived at the scene of the crime with a gun but she is yet to be arraigned as an accused.

"The dress which Bose had worn when he was attacked has gone missing. Despite the victim being in hospital for 18 days, no dying declaration has been recorded by the police. This clearly shows that the accused is very powerful," alleged Pallissery.

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala assured the house that the government's aim was to secure the maximum punishment for the accused.

"Please do not be misled by reports that appear in a section of the media on this case. We are very particular that...there should be no loopholes. Please do not be misled by...baseless reporting. The police are doing a fine job," said Chennithala.

On the allegations levelled by government chief whip P.C. George that state director general of police K.S. Balasubramanian was trying to scuttle the probe into this case, Chandy came down heavily on George.

"One is free to have difference of opinion, but when one is part of the government, the government's opinion is final and it has to be adhered to. We have full confidence in the DGP and we back him to the hilt. This case will be handled with utmost caution and our intentions are very clear, that there will be no let down," said Chandy.