Addressing the media, Chennithala said he had instructed the State Police Chief not to pursue the cases any further, describing them as routine law-and-order matters that did not involve serious violence or criminal acts..reports Asian Lite News Desk
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Friday announced that the state government will withdraw all police cases registered in connection with statewide protests held in solidarity with the agitation in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
The decision follows representations submitted to the Chief Minister and the Home Department by Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, Tushar Gandhi and several other prominent personalities seeking the withdrawal of the cases.
Addressing the media, Chennithala said he had instructed the State Police Chief not to pursue the cases any further, describing them as routine law-and-order matters that did not involve serious violence or criminal acts.
“These are general law-and-order cases. There was no serious violence or atrocity. Even the Supreme Court adopted a positive approach towards the issue. Therefore, there is no need to pursue these cases further,” the Home Minister said.
Alongside the announcement, Chennithala unveiled ‘Operation Toofan’, a joint initiative by the Police and Prisons Departments aimed at eliminating narcotics from prisons across Kerala. The statewide operation began at 2 a.m. following intelligence reports that some inmates were using and trafficking drugs inside jail premises. Raids were continuing across prisons on Friday, with the minister warning of strict action against anyone found involved.
He also expressed concern over reports that narcotics were being supplied to students through online delivery services. Referring to the recent Perambra case in Kozhikode, in which three women teachers and a delivery executive have allegedly come under the scanner, Chennithala urged delivery personnel not to become part of drug distribution networks. He also called for stronger action against social media campaigns that promote or facilitate drug trafficking.
On the ongoing controversy surrounding the PM SHRI school scheme, Chennithala criticised the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, alleging it had signed the agreement with the Centre without Cabinet approval or informing coalition partner CPI.
He said the current government could not simply withdraw from the agreement as doing so would deprive Kerala of Central financial assistance. Instead, the state would seek greater flexibility from the Centre on matters relating to curriculum and the selection of schools under the scheme, while maintaining that responsibility for the original agreement lay with the previous administration.
