Conceding to the demand by the opposition Congress, the Kerala [Images] cabinet decided on Wednesday to order a judicial probe by a sitting High Court Judge into custodial and other police-related deaths. The probe will look into deaths that have occurred in the three months of the LDF being in power. 

The government will write to the High Court Chief Justice, seeking the service of a judge to conduct the probe, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

So far, 13 persons have died in police-related incidents in the state.

The Congress, while demanding a judicial probe, had warned that the party would launch an intensified agitation if their demand was not met.

As part of their agitation, Congress MLAs held a dharna before the secretariat in protest against the recurrence of custodial and police-related deaths in the state.