KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation seeking a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the violent incidents that occurred in the vicinity of the construction site of Vizhinjam International Seaport last week.
A division bench comprising chief justice S Manikumar and justice Shaji P Chaly considered a petition (WP-C No. 39229/22) filed by former DySP P Gopakumaran Nair of Venganoor in Thiruvananthapuram during an admission hearing. As per the plea, his land was acquired for the port project.
While dismissing the plea during the admission hearing itself, the court said the ongoing probe is at its nascent stage and that an NIA probe is not warranted now.
It was contended by the petitioner that an NIA probe is necessary as a minister of the state government has come out with a statement that the help of external agencies is doubted in the protests against the construction of the port project at Vizhinjam.
The violent incidents that occurred at Vizhinjam last week were in the form of riots, the petition had said. The protestors had attacked police personnel and had damaged police vehicles. Despite such widespread attacks, police did not take strong action, it was alleged by the petitioner.
In such circumstances, the probe being conducted by the state police will not result in bringing out the true facts to light, the petition stated while demanding an NIA probe.
