Kunhalikutty influenced witnesses in Sex scandal case

Former Kerala Minister and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state general secretary P K Kunhalikutty had influenced two main witnesses to escape from the sensational Kozhikode Ice cream Parlour Sex Scandal case in the 1990s, brother-in-law of Kunhalikutty K A Rauf said.

The two main witnesses, including Regina, who had accused Kunhalikutty of sexually assaulting her, were paid huge amounts of money and a house for changing her version in the affidavit, he said.

He also stated that Kunhalikutty`s name was initially mentioned at seven places in the affidavit accusing him of the assault, but later was changed after paying the money.

Rauf also said that Kunhalikutty had tried to eliminate IUML leader M K Muneer, who was heading India Vision channel, which telecast revelation of Regina.

Worst Sabarimala tragedy: 102 devotes killed in Stampede

In the worst ever tragedy, 102 people were killed and scores injured, many of them seriously, in a stampede at a narrow forest stretch at Pullumede near Vandiperiyar, where thousands of devotees were returning after watching the celestial Makara Jyothi light, in this district on Friday night.

Most of the victims were from neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, police said. But the exact toll is not yet known as more bodies were being recovered.

The tragedy occurred 50 km from the famed hill shrine Sabarimala when a jeep carrying devotees lost control and ploughed through the crowd, triggering a stampede at around 2015 hrs.

The Kerala government has declared a three-day state mourning in the wake of the worst tragedy that struck Sabarimala Pilgrims in which 102 devotees were killed.

`` It is unfortunate that such an accident had occurred. The state will observe a three day mourning,`` Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters here.

Stating that the government would provide all financial assistance to the family of those killed, he said the assistance would be decided at the cabinet meeting.

Mr Achuthanandan said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had called him in the morning and expressed shock over the death of Sabarimala pilgrims.

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