VS plays down remark on IG

A day after he embarrassed his party over the selection of a top police officer to question two Laskar-e-Toiba suspects in Bangalore,CM V S Achuthanandan on Wednesday rectified his stand apparently under pressure from the CPM.

Achuthanandan had said that the government had not deputed Inspector-General Tomin J Thachankery,known to be close to CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan,to question Tadiyantavede Nasir and his accomplice Shafaz Shamsudheen.

His comment was taken as the first act of indiscipline after his suspension from the party Politburo in July. Leaders in the Pinarayi faction had registered their protest against the CMs comments.

After a Cabinet meeting,Achuthanandan said his observation was an impromptu reaction. I am satisfied with the explanation given by Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that Thachankery was deputed by his department, he said.