The Koothuparambu firing () was a police action on 25 November 1994. The incident was named after the town Koothuparambu in Kerala, India, and happened at Tellicherry Road in Kannur, the district of Kerala.
The gunfire happened after the inauguration of the co-operative Urban Bank's evening branch. The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) had organised a protest against the educational policy – granting government quota seats to the management – of the then United Democratic Front government led by the Congress. Police fired their weapons when the protesters blocked minister M. V. Raghavan. The DYFI said their action was "a protest against Raghavan, Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader and Kerala’s Minister, for starting the medical college as a self-financing institution at Pariyaram, Kannur, and "Granting government quota seats to the management."
The police stated that they fired at the crowd for both the protection of the minister as well as public and private property. Five DYFI activists were killed, and six people were injured. Following the firing, criminal proceedings were brought against people including the then sub-divisional magistrate Antony, DySP Abdul Hakkim Bathery, and constables P. K. Lukose, Sivadasan, and Balachandran. They were charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy by a magistrate court based on a private complaint.
The Kerala High Court quashed the murder charges in June 2012 against deputy collector TT Antony, IPS officer Ravada Chandrasekhar, and four other police officials connected with the firing. The court dismissed the case on the grounds that the necessary government permission to prosecute public officials had not been obtained in the case.
Cause and the incident
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) political party had been dominant in the Kannur District of the State of Kerala. One of its leaders, M.V. Raghavan, broke away from the party in 1986 and formed a new political party called CMP (Communist Marxist Party). The CMP soon became a constituent of the United Democratic Front, which formed the Government in power in the State of Kerala.
Raghavan became a minister in the UDF Government who was in charge of co-operation and Ports. The Youth Wing of the CPI(M) became greatly offended by this and took matters into their own hands by ensuring Raghavan was prevented from entering the Kannur District. In January 1993, Raghavan made a visit to Kannur District. Members of CPI(M) threw some country-made bombs at him. Following that incident, the Government arranged for extra security measures to be taken during Raghavan's visits to Kannur District.
Contrary to the advice given by the district administration, on 25 November 1994, Raghavan made plans to visit and attend the inauguration of the evening branch of the Co-operative Urban Bank, located in the Alakkandy Complex at Koothuparamba – Tellicherry Road, Kannur District.
The first firing occurred in the proximity of the town hall, on the orders of the Executive Magistrate and the Deputy Superintendent of Police. Subsequent gunfire occurred in vicinity of Koothuparamba's police station on the orders of the Superintendent of Police. Five people were killed by gunfire, and six were injured.
After the firing, members of the police used their lathi to subdue the crowd. More than a hundred people—mostly rioters—were injured.
Victims
The Koothuparamba firing resulted in the immediate death of five activists from the DYFI. The five people were K.K. Rajeevan, Madhu, Shibulal, Babu, and Roshan. Six more activists were injured at the hands of the police.
The shooting was argued to be unprovoked by the Solicitor General. Since the protesters did not pose a threat to the life of the Minister, it was argued that the police over-reacted and the shooting was unnecessary. Many articles consider these students martyrs for sacrificing their lives.