Thiruvananthapuram: A directive from police higher-ups to prevent a sit-in by Jishnu Pranoy’s parents in front of the police headquarters at any cost had eventually resulted in the police’s inhumane action, it is reliably learnt.
Jishnu’s mother Mahija had earlier announced that she would stage a sit-in in front of the police headquarters from Wednesday protesting against the delay in arresting those responsible for Jishnu’s death.
According to police sources, there was no precedent of a sit-in in front of the police headquarters.
“The police is probing thousands of cases. If any one stages a sit-in in front of police headquarters alleging lapses in probe, it may become a precedent. Hence we had to prevent the sit-in in front of the police headquarters at any cost,” said a police officer who was involved in the police action against Jishnu’s relatives. The police had also told Jishnu’s parents that they could stage a sit-in in front of Secretariat.
Though the police maintained that there was a ban on holding protests near police headquarters, sources said that the police headquarters was not declared a high security zone. “It was only a practice not to allow protest in front of police headquarters,” said the source. The police erred in tackling the situation. “Jishnu’s parents are victims of crime. Instead of removing them by force, the police could have even waited for some time, allowing them to block the road. Or else, the so called external elements like SUCI workers and the controversial godman could have been removed from the spot,” said a senior police officer.
