Withdraw cases against Savithri Kannan: CPM

CHENNAI: CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan on Monday sought immediate withdrawal of cases filed against senior journalist Savithri Kannan and urged the state government to ensure a transparent investigation of the death of a class XII girl student of a school at Kaniyamoor in Kallakurichi on July 13.

In a statement, he said that the senior journalist had penned an article on the alleged handwritten “suicide note” was that of the girl in the backdrop of the Forensic Department having submitted its findings in a sealed envelope to the Madras High Court only recently. Kannan was arrested from his home on a case filed under four sections, he said.

Pointing out chief minister assured action against anyone involved in the girl’s death, he said that however, the police action was contradictory to the chief minister’s assurance. “If the journalist’s report was contradictory to the forensic department’s report, they could have simply denied it. Instead, they have resorted to arresting journalists. Still, there were doubts about the student’s autopsy and the circumstances of her death, ” he said.

Balakrishnan said that the embargo imposed by the police on this case was illegal. “But no action was taken against those who are talking in support of the school administration, ” he said.