Alarm over 'plot' against Natesan

Reports that an electric current was passed through the microphone set at a meeting attended by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappali Natesan have alarmed the group's leaders.

In a statement they said it was an attempt on Natesan's life and demanded a vigilance probe into the plot.

The incident occurred at Vellarada near Neyyattinkara on October 10, during the inauguration of a building. According to reports, miscreants passed the current through the sound system, but no one on the podium was injured as a stabiliser blocked the high voltage electricity flow and caught fire.

The statement demanding a vigilance probe was issued by Yogam president Advocate K. Vidyasagar, Devaswom secretary M.B. Sreekumar and assistant secretary Prof. G. Satyan.

The incident pointed to the fact that "the political terror in the state was gaining strength", said the statement, exhorting all SNDP branches and feeder organisations to react to the "miscreants' heinous move to endanger the life of the community's brave fighter".

The statement said the people had the right to know who tried to do away with Natesan after attempts to weaken him mentally had proved futile. It said no attacks on the SNDP leaders and workers would be tolerated and their consequences would be grave.

Local police denied allegations that the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), whose ties with Natesan had of late worsened, was behind the incident.

Natesan himself had said that his life was in danger. He had also received a letter warning him against attending the Vellarada meeting. Subsequently, SNDP volunteers were keeping a vigil from the day before the meeting.

According to the police, the incident was an offshoot of rivalry between two mike-set owners. Some of the suspects had been taken into custody and interrogations were on.