Thiruvananthapuram: The state government's decision to act tough on errant cops assumes significance in the wake of two police officers being awarded death penalty in the Udayakumar custodial murder case of 2005. A report, which was recently submitted to police chief Loknath Behra, stated that as many as 59 cops were involved in grave criminal cases, ranging from attempt to murder to sexual harassment.
The DGP has made it clear that those who are facing criminal charges would be shown the door. It is often seen that the officers who are suspended would return to work after their customary off days.
As per section 86 (C) of the Kerala Police Act, no person shall be eligible for appointment as a police officer or shall have the right to continue in employment as a police officer if that person is found mentally, physically or behaviourally unfit for carrying out the duties of police. Since the rule also stipulates that the appointing authority needs to give reasonable opportunity to the accused to prove his/her innocence, criminal proceedings will be initiated only after completing all the legal formalities.
Based on legal advice, an explanation will be sought from the officers whose names figured in criminal cases, it was learnt.
The data released by the Home Department in April, in reply to an RTI application, had pegged the number of officers involved with criminal cases at 1,129. That list included 10 DySPs, eight CIs and 195 personnel of SI-ASI ranks. The department, which is unsure how to deal with such high number of delinquents, would seek legal advice from the Law Department regarding the action to be initiated.
The initial report submitted by Behra to state human rights commission mentioned 387 officers were found guilty. The 59 officers is part of a revised list of offenders which include only officers found involved in cases which were of grave nature.
A panel was formed to suggest action against tainted officers after an RTI response showed increase in number of criminals in Khaki. Police high-handedness even resulted in the custodial death of a youth named Sreejith at Varappuzha on April 9, 2018.
