Thiruvananthapuram: When the LDF government prepared its ‘progress card’ on its second anniversary, the home department finished the last with zero marks. Even though several circulars were issued to improve the functioning of the police, there has been no change in the situation. A special advisor was also appointed. But again the performance of the police attracted much criticism.
The latest example is the incident at Kottayam where a youth, who had married his sweetheart at a registrar office, being abducted and killed. When the relatives of Kevin P Joseph of SH Mount, Nattassery, complained to the police that a ten-member gang had attacked his house and forcibly taken him away, they were told by the officials that an investigation would be launched only after the chief minister’s programme.
However, the chief minister said that the error occurred on part of the police and that he should not be dragged into the issue.
Advisor who gives no advice
Former DGP Raman Srivastava was appointed the police advisor to the chief minister after several complaints were raised on the functioning of the law enforcers. He was the seventh advisor to take charge with the rank of chief secretary. Then, the chief minister had said on the posting: “It is good to have advisors around you. I feel one more person will make things better.”
However, matters took a turn for the worse after the advisor’s appointment. A Kerala cadre IPS officer of the 1973 batch, Srivastava was considered very close to former chief minister K Karunakaran. After he faced allegations in the ISRO spy case, Srivastava shifted to the central service. In 2005, he took over as DGP bypassing several seniors. In 2009, he became the head of the border security force.
Several CPM leaders as well as cadres had opposed the choice of Srivastava as the CM’s advisor. But the opposition subsided after the chief minister made his choice clear. The partymen now say that even the presence of an advisor has made no difference to the police. They also feel that the advice he gives often spoils the reputation of the government.
Incidents that landed the police in a soup
• Thiruvananthapuram, April 4, 2017: The mother and other relatives of Jishnu Pranoy, who committed suicide at Nehru College, Pampady reached the police headquarters seeking the arrest of those involved. But the police blocked them. Mahija, Jishnu’s mother, was dragged away by the police and later arrested. A major controversy erupted. Even veteran CPM leader V S Achuthanandan joined the issue, coming down on the DGP.
• Kanjikuzhi, Alappuzha, March 11, 2018: Shebu belonging to Kuthakkara House, Kanjikuzhi was riding a bike along with his wife and two children when the highway police signalled him to stop. However, Shebu did not stop, following which the police gave a chase. The police vehicle overtook Shebu’s bike and abruptly blocked it. Another bike which was passing that way hit Shebu’s bike and the two riders, Bichu and Sumi died a tragic death. Top officials made a vain bid to save the highway police personnel involved. The SI was later suspended.
• Erattupetta, Kottayam, March 16, 2018: Youths travelling on bike without helmet were verbally abused by SI Manjulal. The incident took place at the police station after the bike and the riders were brought there. The video of the abuse was circulated widely in the social media, leading to the suspension of the SI.
• Kottakkal, Malappuram, March 24, 2018: The governor was travelling through the area on that day. A police official who was deployed on the route to ensure smooth passage for the dignitary punched a car driver on his nose causing injuries. The police officer alleged that the car was not parked properly. ASI Benny Varghese was transferred following the incident.
• Thiruvananthapuram, March 14, 2018: A foreign lady went missing and a complaint was filed by her husband and sister. But the police conducted no proper search. One month later, the body of the woman was found.
• Varapuzha, Kochi, April 9, 2018: A youth, Sreejith, who was taken into custody by a special investigation team of the SP on charges of attacking a house, was tortured to death. The post-mortem report said that he had faced brutal treatment. The SI and other junior officers were suspended. They were later arrested. SP A V George was also charged and the probe against him is still continuing.