SI suspended for ‘inaugurating’ road, MLA says cop being targeted

A traffic police officer in Muvattupuzha has been suspended for allegedly inaugurating a road unofficially. Siddique K. P., sub-inspector, Muvattupuzha (traffic), has been suspended pending an internal inquiry after CPM area secretary Aneesh M. Mathew lodged a complaint with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, police sources said on Sunday (September 14).

Sateesh Bino, DIG, Ernakulam range, issued the suspension order. Siddique allegedly opened a portion of MC Road, which was renovated recently, in the presence of Muvattupuzha MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan on Friday (September 12) in what looked like an informal event. The local CPM leadership was irked by the incident.

Police sources said the sub-inspector had not sought permission from the higher officers before attending the event, causing a political controversy.

Mr. Kuzhalnadan on Sunday questioned the police action, saying the government was targeting the police officer unfairly. He said he would raise the issue in the Assembly. “The traffic SI only performed his rightful duty by opening the road once it was decided to open it for traffic. He has the legal right to do so. It is just that he did it in the presence of the MLA and the municipal chairman. It was not an inauguration,” the MLA said in a statement.