Thiruvananthapuram: As many as eight policemen have been suspended following clashes over elections to police co-operative society. The suspension order was issued by the city police commissioner on the basis of the report of cantonment assistant police commissioner on Sunday.
The suspended included six pro-UDF and two pro-LDF policemen. Sources said that recommendations for suspension of six others also were given.
The suspended policemen included G.R. Ajith (former general secretary of Kerala Police Association, traffic) who is the leader of the pro-UDF faction in the police, Harlilal R.G. (Vanchiyoor), Shoban Prasad (control room), Minimol M.S. (women police station) Sheeja Das (Nemom) and Ranjith, Sanalkumar and Anilkumar (AR camp).
But pro-UDF policemen alleged that the disciplinary action was discriminatory.
This was because a policeman who was a member of the security team of the chief minister was excluded from the action even though he was involved in the scuffle. However, officials said that he was excluded following evidence that he was not involved in the issue.
All the suspended policemen were candidates in the elections to the cooperative society scheduled for June 27. Of them, Ajith and Renjith are already under suspension for other issues.
Museum Police had registered three separate cases in connection with the clashes between pro-UDF and pro-LDF policemen.
The issues started following a dharna conducted by pro-UDF policemen alleging that they were being denied voting identity cards.
