The Muslim League, meanwhile, vehemently opposed demands to have the Marad massacre probed by the CBI. Though Antony said his Government would consider a ‘‘partial CBI probe,’’ the Government later submitted to the commission that it decided not to have a CBI probe since a partial probe was not ‘‘procedurally possible.’’

The commission, however, dismisses this Government view saying it would not stand legal scrutiny. Its report cites a Supreme Court order asserting that such a probe was indeed possible, and adds that the Government’s stubborn unwillingness to have the CBI look into the massacre was ‘‘mysterious’’.

But the commission’s documents are more revealing. One is the deposition of N P Rajendran, president of the Calicut Press Club, which the Government sought to help restore peace in Marad. Rajendran told the commission that Muslim League state secretary and then state Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty had asked him while he was at the Chief Minister’s residence for the Marad meeting: “Where’s the guarantee that the CBI, if allowed to probe the incident, will not arrest me or Panakkad Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal (Muslim League supremo)?” The commission’s report also says a senior Muslim League leader knew about the conspiracy that later led to the killings.

Its other key findings:

• Coming in for strong indictment is then Kozhikode District Collector T O Sooraj, currently director of Industries. The commission has observed that allegations that the Collector was a communalist cannot be dismissed as untrue.

... contd.