Police didn't misbehave, says Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday backed Yatish Chandra, SP, saying that the officer had not misbehaved or spoken rudely to union minister of state for shipping Pon Radhakrishnan during his Sabarimala visit.

At a press conference here, the chief minister said the police officer had spoken to the union minister giving him due recognition and respect.

The officer had allowed the minister’s vehicle and urged the people accompanying him to travel by KSRTC buses. However, they insisted that their vehicles should be permitted up till Pampa.

Pinarayi said keeping in view the restrictions on vehicular movement from Nilakkal to Pampa, the officer refused permission. “He explained the restrictions in the area to the union minister and there was nothing wrong in it,” he said. On the complaint filed by BJP agisnt Yatish Chandra and their demand for action, the chief minister said the move was part of Sangh Parivar strategy to discourage and neutralise police officers who were enforcing rule of law. Earlier a section of police officers were attacked in the name of their caste and religion. “Protest marches were held in front of the houses of police officers, houses of their in laws and even in native places of officers from outside the state,” he said and added that the Sangh Parivar objective was to scare the police officers.

He said the police was discharging their duties in an upright manner and with full responsibility. The police has not resorted to any provocative actions.

Even earlier a section of police were targeted by Sangh Parivar attacking them in the name of caste and religion.