Home department under Pinarayi Vijayan is a total failure, says Kodikunnil Suresh

Incidents of police excesses against ordinary people and public figures are on the rise in Kerala and the Home department headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has been a total failure, Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, has said.

He said that in police stations, common people and even Left party workers were being denied justice under the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front government. “The Chief Minister is trying to protect police officers with criminal tendencies. Failure to take strong action against police excesses undermines democracy and erodes people’s trust,” Mr. Suresh said.

The Mavelikara MP said that in connection with the custodial torture of a Youth Congress Mandalam president at Kunnamkulam in Thrissur, the government was trying to limit action to mere suspension instead of dismissing the culprits in accordance with the law. “Similar video evidence of police brutality has also surfaced in Idukki. Even a Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] local secretary in Kollam had to face police cruelty, which is yet another proof of the government’s failure,” he said.

Mr. Suresh said that Mr. Vijayan should accept responsibility and relinquish the Home portfolio. “Justice for ordinary people can be ensured only if guilty police officers with criminal tendencies are dismissed from service,” he added.