State police chief Loknath Behera orders probe into attack on protesters

KOZHIKODE: State police chief Loknath Behera has ordered a probe into the alleged attack by police on protesters who have been staging a strike at Nadakkavu. Kozhikode city police commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar was asked to probe into the police action and submit a report. IG (Trissur-range) M.R. Ajith Kumar will supervise the probe, said a statement from the state police chief. The protesters are demanding action against the medical college SI who allegedly tortured a school student on October 26.

Ajay, student of Higher Secondary School, Malabar Christian College campus, was allegedly beaten up by the SI when Ajay questioned him for coming to the college hostel after 8 p.m. P. Sulochana, Ajay’s mother, who kickstarted a hunger strike, was forcibly taken to the Beach General Hospital by the police on Wednesday night. Ms K. Anandakanakam, social activist and chairman of the protest committee, told DC, “the incident is a repetition of what happened to the mother of Jishnu Pranoy, who committed suicide. The police have continued the atrocities here. The woman was dragged to the police vehicle and dumped in the hospital. We have started another protest at the same venue and will raise our voice against the police action,” she added.

City police commissioner S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said, “the woman was taken to the hospital because she resisted the police attempt to give her medical aid following the doctor’s assessment. A detailed inquiry will be conducted against the medical college SI and reports will be soon submitted to senior officials, he added. Sulochana’s sister is now leading the hunger strike. Sulochana said that though she had complained to the higher authorities, no action was taken against the SI.