Assault on Youth Congress workers in Alappuzha: SIT says 'assault unlawful’

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) that probed the alleged assault by police officers, including those attached to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s security detail, on Indian Youth Congress activists in Alappuzha in 2023 submitted its report to the State Police Chief (SPC) on Monday. The SIT, headed by Superintendent of Police A.P. Shoukathali, reportedly concluded that the assault was unlawful and recommended criminal charges against the officers involved in the incident. The SPC is expected to examine the findings before forwarding it to the Home Secretary for further action.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala will subsequently review the report, considering the seriousness and political sensitivity of the case.

The investigation team had collected visual evidence, recorded statements from the complainants, including Alappuzha MLA A.D. Thomas, police officers and others involved in the incident.

'Unnecessary'

It observed that the police action to contain the protests during the ‘Navakerala Sadas’ outreach programme was not justified under any operational circumstances, and that the intervention by the former Chief Minister’s gunmen and security staff was unnecessary and exceeded their official duties.

The probe also found that the initial investigation may have involved procedural irregularities. The findings under examination include the allegation that the original investigation was influenced or altered following instructions from the top. The recorded statements reportedly indicate purported interference by Additional Director General of Police M.R. Ajith Kumar, who was then in charge of law and order. The initial probe had concluded that no wrongdoing could be established on the part of the police officers.