Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 14: The Congress in Kerala today demanded that Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan should make a direct inquiry into the increasing number of custodial deaths in the state.

Addressing media persons here Pradesh Congress Committee President Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the people in the state were in panic because of police atrocities and continuing custodial deaths and sought Chief Minister's direct intervention to end the situation.

Though Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was bound to control the Police Department and ensure protection to the people, he was totally ''inactive'', they alleged.

Instead of punishing the errant police officials, the Home Minister was trying to protect the officials and justifying their act, Mr Chennithala said adding that it was ''quite objectionable and could not be justified in any way''.

Mr Chandy said the government should take action against the guilty officials as was taken by the previous UDF government against the police officials involved in the Udayakumar murder case.

Pointing out that 13 custodial deaths were reported within two and a half months after the Left Democratic Front government assumed office, Mr Chandy said the Congress would launch agitations from August 16 urging the government to have a 'police policy'.

He said nothing less than a judicial inquiry into the custodial deaths was acceptable to the Congres as the inquiry by a RDO or District Collector would never bring out the truth, as these two were part of the government.

They also demanded adequate compensation to the kin of those died in police custody.

UNI