Madurai, Dec 15 (PTI) Opposing requests for transferring investigations into the October 11 police firing at Paramakudi in which seven persons were killed, Tamil Nadu Government today told the Madras High Court bench that police was competent enough to probe the case. Advocate General A Navaneethakrishnan told the court that it was with an "open mind' that the Government had constituted a one man commission to probe the incident and it would be conducted in a free and fair manner in accordance with law. The Court had on October 12 ordered issue of notices to CBI, Tamil Nadu and Union Governments on a batch of petitions seeking a CBI probe into the police firing. Navaneethakrishnan said accepting the advice of the court earlier, the government had increased compensation to the familis of victims and injured. Besides, orderes have been issued to give appointments in government service to members of the affected families on compassionate grounds. He said the petitioners have no personal knowledge about the incident. Public Prosecutor I Subramanian said facts and circumstances of the case would not warrant transferring the probe to CBI. After the hearing, Justice K N Basha and Justice M Venugopal reserved their orders. Seven persons were killed and several injured in the firing at Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram when a crowd comprising mostly Dalits allegedly turned violent following detention of their leader John Pandian who was on his way to attend the anniversary of Dalit leader Immanuel Sekar.
