Kollam/Kottayam: A series of police atrocities reported from across Kerala of late have put the state police in a bad light.The Kerala Police once again came under fire from all quarters as they failed to acknowledge the seriousness of the Kevin abduction case and take quick action. The inaction of the officers at the Gandhinagar police station in Kottayam district has been blamed for the subsequent murder of the 23-year-old man who had married his lover a day before.
The body of Kevin P Joseph, who wed Neenu Chacko against the will of the latter's family, was found by locals early Monday morning at Chaliyakkara stream, 20 km away from Thenmala.
His body was found lying with face down. It is suspected that the body was dumped here after he was killed elsewhere. Footmarks are found on the banks of the stream.
Now, the top officials of Kerala police, in a bid to save their face, has suspended Gandhinagar sub-inspector M S Shibu for failing to take action on time. The family of Kevin has also alleged that the SI has received bribe from the abductors. They have lodged a complaint in this regard with the district police chief.
Meanwhile, Kochi Range IG Vijay Sakhare will conduct a probe into the death of Kevin. Kevin's body has not been removed from the spot as locals and Youth Congress activists insisted on an inquest by the RDO.
The situation around the Gandhinagar police station is tense as Congress workers led by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, MLA, are staging a protest.
Congress leaders Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and Ramesh Chennithala protest against the police in Kottayam.Kottayam SP Mohd Rafique, who has been transferred over the issue, has been assaulted amid a scuffle between Congress activists and police.
AIG Harishankar will be the new Kottayam SP as the incumbent Rafique has been shunted out as the row over police inaction escalated.
Meanwhile, the state police chief Lokanath Behera has also sought a report from inspector general of Kochi Range.
On Monday, the family and friends of Kevin protested outside the police station demanding strict action against the police officers and abductors.
Relatives of Kevin P Joseph.Kevin, a resident of SH Mount in Kottayam, was allegedly abducted by an armed gang led by his wife's brother on Sunday. He was forcibly taken along with his relative Anish. The abductors thrashed Anish severely and left him on the way. Anish, who suffered severe injuries on his face in the attack, has been admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital.
Immediately after the incident, Kevin's bride Neenu had approached Gandhinagar police station seeking action against the gang, which she said had abducted her husband.
However, the officers had refused to take quick measures to save the youth allegedly citing lack of personnel owing to the visit of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Kevin P Joseph's mother Omana.Kevin had met Neenu as she pursued a course in a Kottayam college. The two of them registered their marriage on Friday at a sub-registrar office as the family of the girl had fiercely objected to their marriage and threatened them against it. Neenu's family later registered a complaint with the police stating that she had gone missing. Though the police summoned the two, Kevin and Anish left the girl back at her hostel as she confirmed that she likes to go with Kevin.
Thereafter, the armed gang, which arrived in three vehicles, reached Kottayam and vandalised Kevin's house and forcibly took away the bridegroom and Anish, a native of Kalambukattuchira at Mannanam.
Though the police contacted the gang over phone, they were told that Kevin had jumped out of the car and escaped at Pathanapuram. Meanwhile, the police commenced the search for Kevin as well as the gang, until the tragic news was reported on Monday morning.
