THIRUVANANTHAPRUAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday assured that exemplary action would be taken on custodial death of Sreejith. He said the accused, whoever they may be, will not receive any protection from the government. A high-level inquiry has already been announced. Appropriate further action will be taken on the findings of the inquiry, he said in Kasargod. The Chief Minister's statement comes in the wake of widespread criticism against police in connection with the alleged custodial death of the youth in Varapuzha.
While four police officers including Paravur CI have been suspended after grave lapses were found on their part in the preliminary inquiry conducted by SIT head IG S Sreejith, the opposition parties are not satisfied. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded an inquiry into the entire issue by a sitting district judge. Human Rights Commission has asked the government to fix responsibility of higher police officers as well. Apart from registration of criminal cases, the cops involved in the incident should be removed from service.
The custodial death has exposed the failure of the home department and police top brass in reining in rogue cops within in the force. Even the repeated warnings issued by the chief minister to police personnel against taking law into their hands, seems to have had little impact. The ruling LDF allies have called for strict monitoring of the functioning of police force to ensure that the present government's people friendly police policy is implemented in its true letter and spirit.
